Massachusetts Advances Landmark Data Privacy Bill to Prohibit Sale of Precise Location Information

Massachusetts lawmakers have advanced a major privacy bill that would give residents stronger rights over how companies collect, access, and delete their personal data. The legislation would also prohibit businesses from selling users’ precise location information.

The Massachusetts House approved the Consumer Data Privacy Act in a unanimous 146-0 vote on Thursday, following the state Senate’s earlier approval of its own version of the legislation last September. The two versions will now be reconciled before being sent to the governor’s desk, where the measure is widely expected to become law. A timeline for final approval has not yet been announced.

If enacted, Massachusetts would join a growing number of U.S. states introducing stronger consumer privacy protections in the absence of a comprehensive federal privacy law. State governments have increasingly stepped in to establish their own regulations governing how companies collect and use personal information.

The proposed legislation would apply to organisations that process or control the personal data of more than 100,000 consumers. As a result, the law would impact both large technology companies and a wide range of medium-sized businesses operating within the state.

Under the bill, companies would be prohibited from sharing or selling sensitive personal information without obtaining clear user consent. Protected data would include biometric information such as fingerprints, health records, and genetic details, as well as precise geolocation data, religious beliefs, immigration status, and information related to sexual orientation.

The sale of location data has remained one of the most controversial issues in privacy policy debates. For years, data brokers have purchased location information from mobile applications and resold it to a variety of buyers, including private organisations, governments, and other entities. Critics argue that such practices expose consumers to surveillance and misuse of personal information.

While the Biden administration previously considered federal restrictions on the sale of sensitive personal data, the Trump administration later abandoned those efforts.

By extending protections to both residents and visitors, the Massachusetts proposal would effectively prevent the statewide sale of precise location data. The legislation is expected to affect companies involved in data brokerage, location-based advertising, and digital marketing that rely on location data for targeting.

According to local outlets WBUR and the Lynn Journal, lawmakers from both major parties supported the measure, arguing that privacy should be treated as a fundamental right for individuals in Massachusetts.

Privacy advocates broadly welcomed the legislation. Evan Greer, director of the advocacy group Fight for the Future, said the bill represents an important step toward limiting large-scale surveillance practices by technology companies. The ACLU also praised the proposal, describing it as a landmark effort that positions Massachusetts as a leader in protecting personal privacy and reducing digital surveillance.