Massachusetts Passes Consumer Data Privacy Act, Banning Sale of Precise Location Data

Executive Briefing

• Passes unanimously 146-0 in the House, following a 40-0 Senate vote, heading to governor for signature
• Applies to companies processing personal data of more than 100,000 consumers, targeting mid-size startups and tech giants
• Bans sale or sharing of sensitive data—including geolocation, biometrics, and health data—without explicit user consent
• Extends protections to visitors as well as residents, effectively creating a statewide blanket ban on location data sales
• Fills federal void left after Trump administration scrapped Biden-era rules restricting sale of Americans' sensitive data
• Privacy advocates including ACLU and Fight for the Future praise the bill as a landmark step against Big Tech surveillance