Sen Schumer wants probe into 'spying billboards'

Sen Charles Schumer (D-NY) is urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate a billboard company that helps advertisers target customers by using location and shopping information from people’s mobile phones. Sen Schumer expressed concern that these “spying billboards” by the company Clear Channel Outdoor could be violating Americans’ privacy.

“I am worried about the way this data will be collected for so many unsuspecting individuals,” Schumer said. The company uses data gleaned from users’ mobile phones to track their travel patterns and behavior throughout the day. For example, the data could show if a person went to the drugstore, shopped online or visited a bank. The company says the data it uses is anonymous and aggregated. The data can be used to help advertisers decide where their billboards will be most effective. Schumer asked the FTC to make sure the company’s policies do not violate the law. He also asked if the FTC should require that people be allowed to opt out of the sale of their data. “Without clear policies that provide consumers full disclosure of the data that is collected, and an opportunity to opt-out when necessary, consumers lose the opportunity to make an informed choice about their privacy,” Schumer said.