"Customs and Border Protection (CBP) bought data from the online advertising ecosystem to track peoples' precise movements over time, in a process that often involves siphoning data from ordinary apps like video games, dating services, and fitness trackers, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document obtained by 404 Media."
"Federal agencies are obtaining location data this way, bypassing the restraints created by courts and the oversight Congress is supposed to provide. The DHS has been doing this for years, as have several other federal law enforcement agencies."
"Data brokers will sell to anyone willing to pay, which means plenty of federal agencies are obtaining location data this way, bypassing the restraints created by courts and the oversight Congress is supposed to provide."
Cell phones continuously collect and transmit location data that private companies and law enforcement agencies exploit for profit and surveillance. Federal agencies, including DHS, CBP, and ICE, circumvent judicial oversight by purchasing location information from data brokers rather than seeking warrants. This data originates from everyday applications like fitness trackers, dating services, and video games. Despite congressional pressure and promises to cease these practices, agencies continue leveraging the online advertising ecosystem to track individuals' precise movements over extended periods. This approach effectively bypasses constitutional protections and congressional oversight mechanisms designed to limit government surveillance capabilities.
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