LocationSmart

Alberta iGaming Is Here: What Operators Need Now

When we published our earlier look at Alberta’s emerging iGaming market, the province had just passed the iGaming Alberta Act and a launch timeline was still taking shape.

What Happens When Telcos Stop Sharing their Location Data?

Telcos Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint began restricting access to location data sold to third-party brokers in late June 2018, making it harder for advertisers to reach devices across the US (about two-thirds of devices). The move, framed as a shift toward telcos owning more of mobile advertising and data, could enable a 'telco tax' via exchanges and surcharges, according to the AdExchanger/Dstillery analysis. It disrupts a model where many DSPs and DMPs license data from intermediaries rather than directly from telcos; Verizon counts about 75 companies obtaining its data through LocationSmart and Zumigo. The piece notes that some players who collect data directly from bid streams or apps are unaffected, while the industry faces a scramble for independent sources, potential brand education needs, and questions about data quality and governance as telcos reassess access to location information.

New Data Scandal: LocationSmart Leaked Real-Time US Locations

LocationSmart, a cloud location data service, collected real-time location data from smartphones connected to AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the United States. The data, intended for authorized customers to verify device locality, was reportedly exposed due to weak safeguards. Security researcher Robert Xiao demonstrated a demo vulnerability that could reveal users’ locations; KrebsOnSecurity reported that Xiao located up to two dozen subscribers by exploiting the flaw. LocationSmart said the vulnerability was identified and resolved, the demo disabled, and that no customer data was accessed without permission prior to May 16. The case follows earlier leaks in the sector, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has urged the FCC to investigate carriers’ data-sharing practices. Carriers AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile have stated that data sharing occurs only for law enforcement or with user consent.