In the digital economy, a person’s location data can reveal a surprising amount of information, including where they are, where they live and work, who they regularly meet, how they move about in their daily lives, and even the types of behavioral groups they may belong to. For businesses, this makes location data one of the most valuable forms of commercial information. For consumers, however, it is also one of the most sensitive types of personal data, carrying significant privacy risks. For technology platforms such as Grab, Be, Xanh SM, ShopeeFood, and GHN – Express, location data is far more than a technical input. It serves as the backbone of their digital business models, underpinning everything from ride matching and route optimization to delivery coordination, estimated arrival times, fraud prevention, and day-to-day operational management. Virtually every core function depends on the ability to track and process location information in real time. Fine line between efficiency and privacy Decree No. 356/2025/ND-CP, which provides detailed guidance on the 2025 Law on Personal Data Protection, classifies personal location data collected through location-based services as sensitive personal data. As a result, any activity involving the collection, storage, analysis, sharing, or transfer of location data […]
Paradox of personal location data
By Lawyer Nguyen Van Phuc








