Contact Congress about S. 5462: Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2024

Data brokers could not sell or share people’s health or location data. The FTC, states, and private people could sue violators. The bill also gives the FTC long-term funding to enforce the rules.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2024 is a Senate bill in Congress.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects data brokers that buy, collect, sell, or share health and location information. It also affects people whose medical or location details may be traded without them knowing. The FTC and state attorneys general would get new enforcement work. Health care organizations, nonprofits, universities, advocacy groups, advertisers, and analytics companies could be affected if they act as data brokers or rely on this kind of data.

Why this matters: People’s health and location data can reveal private parts of daily life. It can show where someone lives, works, travels, or gets medical care. This bill tries to stop data brokers from turning that information into a product for sale. Its real effect would depend on how the FTC writes the rules and how courts apply them.

Key provisions in S. 5462

• Data brokers could not sell or share people’s health or location data. The ban also covers inferred data, meaning data used to guess sensitive facts about someone.
• The FTC must write rules within 180 days after the bill becomes law. Those rules must define “data” and explain what kinds of data the law covers.
• The sales ban would start when the FTC final rule is done or 180 days after enactment. The earlier date controls.
• The bill keeps a HIPAA exception. HIPAA is the federal health privacy law, and the exception applies when the data broker is acting as a covered health entity or business associate.
• A data broker could share covered data if the person gives valid authorization. The FTC must adapt that authorization rule from existing federal health privacy regulations for this Act.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 5462

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 5462

What is S. 5462?

Data brokers could not sell or share people’s health or location data. The FTC, states, and private people could sue violators. The bill also gives the FTC long-term funding to enforce the rules.

How do I support or oppose S. 5462?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 5462?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on S. 5462?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.