For instance, private entities can collect geolocation data without consent if the information will help parents find missing children or aid firefighters, police, or medical professionals. The new law might not have a huge real world impact, given that most devices and apps already ask people for permission before they start using location data. But this might encourage more tech companies and app developers to give users the option to opt out of being tracked. There have been plenty of times in the past when companies have faced repercussions for tracking users without their consent. For instance, Apple and Uber have been sued for allegedly tracking un notified users. Ari Scharg, director of the Digital Privacy Alliance DPA, told Gizmodo that the organization has done reports on the apps Selfie. Rate Selfie Pic Hot Or Not, which give developers precise GPS coordinates whenever a person uploads a photo. When a person is just browsing through the photos to rate them, if they were intercepting the backend traffic, they would be able to get the GPS coordinates of each person they viewed, Scharg said. Overall, a person could use this information to stalk someone or the owner of the picture could retaliate against a person that left a bad comment if they were capturing the traffic. The DPA urges app developers to be transparent with users by clarifying how location data is being used. The organization has been advocating for the bill, and even wrote an open letter to Governor Rauner, which was signed by more than 2. Chicago area tech companies. Illinois has a reputation of passing strict data privacy legislation. The states Biometric Information Privacy Act prohibits tech companies from using biometric identifierslike face scans and fingerprintswithout consent. Their Right To Know Actwhich passed in May, but was put on holdrequires companies such as Facebook, Amazon, and Google to disclose what data has been collected from consumers and shared with third parties. Naked Security. Dont UpdatedWe have told you not to stare at the Sun today. We have told you to use safety glasses. We have tried so very hard, and we are so very tired. Here are some people whove collectively said fuck it, were doing it anyway. Yeah, we know theyre kidding. BUT STILL. Dont do it.