Don’t Sell My Data campaign director R.J. Cross spoke with Scripps this week about PIRG’s new efforts to regulate the online data and advertising industry.

“Advertisers can buy your credit card transaction data and see if you’re a frequent shopper at, say, liquor stores or fast food restaurants, and they can also see if you stop,” she told Scripps. “And there is a huge market for data about relapse — shoppers who advertisers view as easy targets to get you to come back and spend more money, and they will target you for ads with beer, booze and Big Macs without any regard for what your goals are. Maybe you don’t want to. Maybe you want to cut back on those things for really good reasons.”