I Know Where You Were Last Summer: A Look Into How Location Data is Collected and Sold

Location data collected from mobile devices can be the most personal in nature, showing where we live, where we travel, and where we spend our day. A multi-billion dollar industry thrives on silently collecting this data from millions of unsuspecting users and selling it to companies and governments to use as they see fit. In this talk, we explore how this economy functions, what data is collected, and how location data makes its way from users to those who purchase and consume it. By shining a light on this industry, we open the door to a larger discussion around the state of consumer privacy and consent.