US Secret Service bought location data harvested from popular apps

[LiberalArkie]

The US Secret Service bought smartphone location data harvested from popular apps, says a new report today. The claim is backed by a contract revealed through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

The data was purchased from a data broker …



Motherboard submitted the FOIA request follower an earlier report.

In March, tech publication Protocol reported that multiple government agencies signed millions of dollars worth of deals with [data broker] Babel Street after the company launched its Locate X product. Multiple sources told the site that Locate X tracks the location of devices anonymously, using data harvested by popular apps installed on peoples’ phones.

Protocol found public records showed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) purchased Locate X. One former Babel Street employee told the publication that the Secret Service used the technology. Now, the document obtained by Motherboard corroborates that finding.

Snip

https://9to5mac.com/2020/08/18/us-secret-service-bought-location-data-harvested-from-popular-apps/

[Baitball Blogger]

1. I'm convinced that they also use spam phone calls to hone in on your location.

I get calls from "unknown caller" whenever I'm out on long errands. You could place a big bet that it will happen.