FBI admits buying Americans’ location data and says it won’t stop

https://www.techspot.com/news/111739-fbi-admits-buying-americans-location-data-wont-stop.html

45 Comments

  1. LongTrailEnjoyer on

    Plot twist: they’ve done this since geolocation services were deployed on personal devices. So since about 2005. Since 2005 the federal government has been able to buy geo tracking location data and it’s 100% legal always has been. How do you think they track criminals locations??? They just use a warrant rather than buying it but same premise. I honestly can’t believe people are shocked by this. It isn’t even political it’s a law enforcement practice.

  2. Stassi — the East German secret police — kept huge amounts of individual intelligence on its people.

    It’s now never been ever and it’s only going to get worse as far as ease of collection.

    It’s already worse in the sense that 3rd parties are the collectors and are doing God knows what with it themselves.

    This isn’t the cyberpunk dystopia that we were “promised” but it’s the one that is already here.

  3. TheDanecdote on

    So they FBI uses our own money (tax dollars) to to purchase our location data. Something something dystopian nightmare

  4. He’s at home again tonight, sir.
    Looks like he’s having beans and rice for dinner again, sir.
    And rewatching Bob’s Burgers.
    Oh, I like this episode, sir.

  5. StAnkie_Brews on

    People of America, what is the sign you need to understand that there isn’t a path forward here where revolution isn’t the answer? When is enough? 
    Pedos run the country, the reps and senators (red and blue, minus a few) are bought off by a foreign entity (is) and the oligarchy is moving to surveil everyone making even the simplest of liberties criminal so people are easily tired for stepping out of line and made into slaves under the 13th amendment. 

    Wake the fuck up already. 

  6. All the lies are just so exhausting. The party of “small government” is wanting to observe everything you do to eventually make sure it’s state approved. That’s where this is headed. We’re headed towards a slave state.

  7. husky_whisperer on

    Of course this is a thing.

    Paying for information that exists inside a 4^th amendment box with money that has probably been taxed two or three times

    Great job

  8. Your local government is buying your location data too and won’t be stopping either (to track movement patterns for things like traffic optimization or designing safer parks).

    They just aren’t telling you.

  9. No-Reflection-8684 on

    If I turn off all location services on my iPhone is the fix that simple? Or does it not really make a difference?

  10. Plastic-Caramel3714 on

    Snowden was called a traitor by both parties for revealing that this was happening. Now they don’t even care if it’s a secret.

  11. Start learning how to silo your online data. Learn how to opt out from companies selling your personal information. Turn off personalized ads, history, and search tracking in web accounts like Google or Microsoft. Restrict permissions on your phone, especially location data. Make it so your phone must ask you every time it wants to use your location data. Use multiple email addresses to sign up for things. Find and delete any website accounts you do not use. Any connections between accounts (like using your Google account to sign into other websites) you have should be terminated as well. **DO NOT GIVE ANY AI CHATBOT OR COMPANY YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.**

    If you are protesting, do NOT bring your phone with you. If you need to bring communication, get a burner phone or two-way radios. Wear masks and eye protection, preferably mirrored so your eyes cannot be seen.

    The US government does not have the right to track you without a warrant. Do what you can to make it harder for them.

  12. Massive_Sink6572 on

    Please tell me again how it’s actually China I should be worried about having my data?

  13. Data brokers make it available for a fee. It’s not just the FBI, anyone can gain access to any personal data you’ve posted online.

  14. And we’re supposed to believe they aren’t the ones hacking it in the first place now? They’re just paying their contractors.

  15. Old-Following1508 on

    Just like that moistcritical video about some old lady getting arrested bc of a.i and the police arrested her and locked her for 3 months until they found out she was innocent nothing good is coming out of this

  16. AThousandBloodhounds on

    Is there a phone carrier out there who *doesn’t* sell location data to third parties?

  17. Have_A_Jelly_Baby on

    If we ever get out of this MAGA hole we’ve dug ourselves into, we can’t let these assholes back in, even an inch.

  18. Welcome to the rest of the world, since us non-Americans has been non-humans for a long time when it come to US laws.

    Hope US citizens get to enjoy the full power of abuse… Since your culture and vote is at fault for not having human rights, maybe that will wake you up finally.

  19. The lie is they pay for it and not that they take it for free. from all your ring cameras and cell phones, laptops, and TVs

  20. Reddit_2_2024 on

    You know that digital console in your personal vehilce with the Android or Apple operating system listening for you to say “Hey Google”, or “Hey Siri” and able to provide you driving directions from your location to your destination very quickly? Some may describe that as commercially available location data.

  21. We should propose a bill that makes it illegal for the government to purchase information it would otherwise need a warrant to demand.

  22. IntellectAndEnergy on

    A government actively working against The People. I can’t believe there’s still a single person supporting this garbage. Astonishing.

  23. Fraegtgaortd on

    Buying our data with our money.

    When can I opt out of paying federal income taxes?