At GroundTruth, consumer privacy is central to how we build and operate our products. We apply safeguards to sensitive locations and certain geographic areas to help ensure location-based advertising and measurement are used responsibly and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
These protections are built directly into our platform and can affect whether a location is eligible for targeting, audience creation, or measurement.
Our Approach to Protected Locations
Not all locations are treated the same. GroundTruth classifies certain locations as Consumer-Protected, Healthcare-Protected, or Prohibited based on their sensitivity.
Depending on the classification, additional targeting and measurement restrictions may apply.
| Classification | Targeting Rule | Measurement Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer-Protected | Minimum distance of 1 mile | Individual device-level location data is not collected. |
| Healthcare-Protected | Healthcare ads cannot be served within 2,000 feet in applicable states. | Visits to protected healthcare locations are not collected or attributed where applicable. |
| Prohibited | No location-based targeting permitted | Visits cannot be measured or attributed. |
Prohibited Locations
Prohibited Locations receive GroundTruth's highest level of protection. These locations are completely excluded from GroundTruth's location-based technology.
This restriction applies regardless of the requested targeting radius.
Blueprinting, On-Premise targeting, and proximity targeting are not permitted.
Visits to these locations cannot be used to build location-based audiences.
Visits cannot be measured or attributed through GroundTruth's location-based measurement solutions.
View Prohibited Location Categories
| Abortion Alternatives Organizations | Abortion Information & Services |
| Adoption Agencies | Army Reserve Center |
| Birth Centers | Birth Control Alternative Organizations |
| Birth Preparation Service | Breastfeeding Supplies & Information |
| Child Development Programs | Child Development-Parent/Child Education |
| Child Guidance | Childbirth Education |
| City Government-International Affairs | County Government-International Affairs |
| Domestic Abuse Information & Treatment | Egg Donation |
| Entertainers-Adult | Escort Service-Personal |
| Family & Children Services | Family Planning Information Centers |
| Federal Government-International Affairs | Foster Care |
| Gay & Lesbian Organizations | Genetic Counseling |
| Gentlemen's Clubs | Guided Missile & Space Vehicle (Mfrs) |
| Guided Missile/Spc Vhcl-Parts Nec (Mfrs) | Guided Mssle/Space Vhcl-Prop Units (Mfr) |
| Health & Welfare Agencies | Homes-Battered Persons |
| Homes-Women | Hotlines & Helping Lines |
| In Vitro/In Vivo Diagnostic Substances | Infertility Counseling |
| Infertility Treatment | Lactation Counseling |
| Marijuana Growers/Cultivators | Maternity Services |
| Medical Marijuana | Military Bases |
| Missile & Rocket Components-Mfrs | Missile & Rocket Research & Dev (Mfrs) |
| Missile & Rocket-Manufacturers | Nuclear Energy Laboratories |
| Nuclear Fuels (Mfrs) | Nuclear Research & Development |
| Orphanages | Pregnancy Counseling Svc & Information |
| Sexual Assault & Abuse Crisis Services | Shelters For Battered Women |
| Social Service & Welfare Organizations | Sperm Banks |
| Spouse Abuse Information & Crisis Line | State Government-International Affairs |
| Substance Abuse Centers | Teen Hot Lines |
| Uranium | Uranium Radium Vanadium Ores |
| Women's Associations | Women's Organizations & Services |
Consumer-Protected Locations
Consumer-Protected Locations are sensitive locations where additional distance protections apply.
Targeting within 1 mile of a Consumer-Protected Location is not permitted.
Ads may be targeted in the surrounding area using a distance of 1 mile or greater.
Visits cannot be used to build location-based audiences.
GroundTruth does not collect individual device-level location information at these locations.
Example: If a location is Consumer-Protected, a 0.5-mile targeting radius would not be permitted. The targeting radius would need to be increased to at least 1 mile.
Healthcare-Protected Locations
GroundTruth applies additional protections to healthcare-related locations and advertising in jurisdictions with healthcare-specific location privacy requirements.
These protections currently apply in Washington, New York, Connecticut, Nevada, and California.
Healthcare-related advertising cannot be targeted within 2,000 feet of a Healthcare-Protected Location in the applicable states.
When does the 2,000-foot rule apply?
The restriction applies when all three conditions are met:
- The location is classified as Healthcare-Protected.
- The location is in WA, NY, CT, NV, or CA.
- The advertisement is categorized as healthcare-related.
Non-healthcare advertising is not restricted by this specific 2,000-foot rule. Other privacy protections may still apply.
Applicable healthcare advertising cannot target within the restricted area.
Healthcare visitation cannot be used to build or retarget audiences where restricted.
Visits to applicable healthcare POIs are not tracked or attributed.
State-Specific Precise Geolocation Restrictions
Some states impose additional restrictions on the use of precise geolocation data.
Locations in Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut cannot use a targeting radius smaller than 1 mile.
| State | Effective Date | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | October 1, 2025 | 1 mile |
| Oregon | January 1, 2026 | 1 mile |
| Virginia | July 1, 2026 | 1 mile |
| New Jersey | July 8, 2026 | 1 mile |
| Connecticut | October 1, 2026 | 1 mile |
What is available
- Radius targeting of 1 mile or greater
- ZIP, city, DMA, and state targeting
- Eligible first-party audiences
- Eligible third-party audiences
- GroundTruth Web Engagement measurement
What is unavailable
- Radius targeting below 1 mile
- On-Premise Targeting
- Neighborhood Targeting
- Location-Based Audience Building using new precise location signals
- Visit Tracking
Existing audiences: Existing eligible first-party GroundTruth audience segments may remain available for use for up to one year following the applicable state's effective date.
When Multiple Location Privacy Rules Apply
A location may be subject to more than one GroundTruth privacy protection.
For example, if a location is in Connecticut and is also Consumer-Protected, both rules require a minimum targeting distance of 1 mile.
If a location is Prohibited, targeting is not permitted regardless of the state or requested radius.
Site Retargeting Pixel Restrictions
GroundTruth pixels cannot be placed on healthcare-related websites involving sensitive healthcare services, including reproductive care, fertility, counseling, and rehabilitation facilities.
Need Help?
If a location or targeting configuration is unavailable because of GroundTruth's privacy protections, consider broader geographic targeting, eligible first- or third-party audiences, or web-based engagement measurement where appropriate.
Contact your GroundTruth representative or email selfservehelp@groundtruth.com .
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