How the government can track your movements

"For years, the internet advertising industry has been sucking up our data, including our location data, to serve us more relevant ads. Now, a new report gives us direct evidence that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has used location data taken from the internet advertising ecosystem to track phones. In a document uncovered by 404 Media, CBP admits what we've been saying for years: The technical systems powering creepy targeted ads also allow federal agencies to track your location."

"At the same time, we know that federal law enforcement agencies have been buying up our location data from shady data brokers that most people have never heard of."

Federal law enforcement agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, are purchasing location data from internet advertising platforms and data brokers to track individuals' phones. A report uncovered by 404 Media provides direct evidence that CBP uses location data from the advertising ecosystem for surveillance purposes. The same technical systems that enable targeted advertising also facilitate government tracking of citizens' locations. This practice represents a significant privacy concern, as federal agencies access personal location information through commercial data channels rather than traditional legal processes. The report includes recommendations for individuals to protect their location data and guidance for policymakers on implementing privacy protections.

Read at Investigative Post