(TNS) — The state Senate has approved a ‘first-in-the-nation’ ban on the sale of cellphone location data as part of a sweeping electric privacy bill, but the plan faces opposition from business groups who say it will hurt the state’s competitiveness.
The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, which passed unanimously Thursday with bipartisan support, would prohibit companies from collecting more data than necessary for products or services, and shield sensitive information like biometric and health data. If approved, Massachusetts would become the first state to ban the use of the data.
The measure would also ban the use of sensitive data for targeted digital advertising, and allow consumers to opt out of having their personal information used to generate targeted ads…