The Centre for Spatial Law and Policy
Commercial imaging satellites, satellite navigation devices, mobile phones, web mapping services (WMS), geographic information systems (GIS), location based services (LBS), radio frequency identification (RFID) and Global Positioning System (GPS) - spatial and location data is being collected, used and distributed around the clock and around the world and is now critical for numerous commercial and governmental purposes .
However, laws and policies with respect to this technology on issues such as privacy, data quality, intellectual property rights and national security are confusing, inconsistent and/or unclear.
The mission of the Centre for Spatial Law and Policy is to educate (i) policymakers and regulators on the benefits of a location-enabled society and the need for consistent and transparent laws and policies with respect to the collection, use and distribution of location and other types of geospatial data, and (ii) businesses on the development of laws and policies that will impact their current and future operations.
Visit the Centre's Facebook page for updates on the many benefits of geospatial technology and data.
Privacy - Recent Developments (U.S.)
The following are bills before Congress, proposed bills, cases and federal agency reports in the U.S. that address geolocation privacy (February 4, 2012)
Cases
Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma Stores, Inc. (California court finds that a zip code can be 'personally identifiable information'.
ACLU v. United States Dept. of Justice (Judge agrees to ACLU request for information from Justice Department on its obtaining suspects' location from cell phones without a warrant)
U.S. v. Jones (Supreme Court case regarding law enforcement's use of GPS tracking device without a warrant)
Rules
Proposed Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (Federal Trade Commission)
Reports
Commercial Data Privacy and Privacy in the Internet Economy: A Dyanimic Policy Framework (Department of Commerce)
Protecting Consumer Privacy In An Era of Rapid Change (Federal Trade Commission)