Failure to register as data broker; sensitive list sales
Datamasters, a Texas-based reseller of personal information for targeted advertising, operated in 2024 without registering with the California Data Broker Registry. The company bought and resold data on millions of people categorized by health conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, drug addiction, and bladder incontinence.
Datamasters also sold lists segmented by age, perceived race (“Senior Lists,” “Hispanic Lists”), political views, grocery purchases, banking activity, and health-related purchasing behavior. As a consequence of the board’s order, Datamasters must entirely cease selling any personal information about Californians, effectively exiting the California market.