Virginia has passed a law prohibiting the sale of geolocation data, effective July 1, 2026. This law aligns Virginia with other states like Maryland and Oregon in regulating data privacy amid increasing scrutiny over the sale of location data.
On April 13, 2026, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed S.B. 388 into law. This law amends the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act to prohibit the sale of geolocation data.
The definition of 'sale' is notably narrower in Virginia's law compared to other states, specifically defining it as the exchange of personal data for monetary consideration to a third party.
The ban on geolocation data sales will take effect on July 1, 2026, impacting how businesses manage consumer location data.
Virginia's legislation is part of a broader trend as several other states have also proposed similar bans, including California, Massachusetts, and Washington State.
Virginia's new law follows regulatory scrutiny regarding the sale of geolocation data, which gained attention after the California Attorney General's investigation in March 2025.
The Federal Trade Commission's 2024 settlement which barred a data broker from this practice has contributed to increased legislative activity in various states.
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Virginia has passed a law prohibiting the sale of geolocation data, effective July 1, 2026. This law aligns Virginia with other states like Maryland and Oregon in regulating data privacy amid increasing scrutiny over the sale of location data.