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General Motors and OnStar are banned from disclosing consumers’ geolocation and driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies for five years. The FTC launched an investigation after reports that GM collected data about customers’ vehicle use and sold it to third-party platforms used by insurance companies without adequate consent, specifically from the OnStar Smart Driver program. GM has now stopped sharing sensitive information with data brokers and must take additional steps to increase transparency for its customers.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has mandated that Marriott International and Starwood Hotels enhance their cybersecurity practices following multiple data breaches. These breaches exposed personal information of over 344 million customers, including credit card details and passport information. The FTC is requiring the companies to implement no fewer than 13 changes to their security measures. This action emphasizes the ongoing need for robust data security and proactive measures to protect customer data against potential breaches.

The FTC has taken action against data brokers Gravy Analytics and Mobilewalla for illegally collecting and selling sensitive information about American residents, including geolocation data from sensitive locations such as places of worship, abortion clinics, and political events. The FTC’s actions aim to protect consumer privacy and limit the collection of sensitive data from vulnerable locations. This highlights the increasing concerns regarding data privacy and the need for stricter regulations on data brokers. The settlements highlight the importance of responsible data handling and compliance with privacy regulations.