Trump’s U-Turn on Data Privacy Harms You
Trump data privacy decisions are erasing hard-won protections. They hand your most sensitive information to the highest bidder.
Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reversed a proposed rule that would have forced data brokers to get your permission before selling your personal data. The rule, developed under the Biden administration, aimed to close a loophole in the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Now, with Trump appointee Russ Vought leading the agency, that effort is officially dead.
What Was at Stake
The rule would have required data brokers to obtain opt-in consent before collecting and selling sensitive data, including:
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Social Security numbers
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Location history
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Financial and employment records
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Biometric data
These are not marketing preferences. They are the core identifiers of your digital life. Revoking the rule gives a free pass to brokers that already compile detailed profiles on nearly every U.S. resident.
And these brokers don’t just sell to advertisers. They deal with insurers, credit scorers, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and sometimes foreign buyers. All without your knowledge or approval.
Who Benefits
Data brokers profit enormously from unrestricted access. The industry generates billions annually by selling consumer data scraped from apps, devices, and public records. Now, they can continue doing so with fewer limits and less oversight.
The only losers are individuals—especially vulnerable groups. According to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, brokers’ data has been used by abusers to track domestic violence survivors. Without legal safeguards, this information can be weaponized again.
What Else Is Happening
This reversal is not an isolated decision. It reflects a broader trend of removing guardrails around personal data.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been accused of building a centralized “master database” to track undocumented immigrants using federal records. Whistleblowers say DOGE accessed private data from other agencies without authorization. These claims have triggered multiple investigations.
Meanwhile, watchdog agencies designed to oversee privacy violations are being defunded or dismantled. This weakens accountability and leaves Americans exposed.
What States Are Doing
In the absence of national privacy protections, states are responding individually.
California, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont have passed laws that require data brokers to register with state agencies. California recently fined broker National Public Data for violating its privacy rules.
These are steps in the right direction. Still, without unified federal standards, enforcement remains inconsistent and incomplete.
VALT Stands for Real Privacy
At VALT, we believe privacy isn’t optional. It shouldn’t depend on political cycles or vague corporate promises.
VALT gives you full control. You can see what data is collected, delete what you don’t want shared, and choose whether to monetize anonymized insights. No third party can override your choices.
Want to stop data brokers from cashing in on your identity?
Protect your data the right way—download VALT today.
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