FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that the agency purchases commercial location data to track US citizens without warrants, raising significant privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns. This practice, previously used by other agencies like the IRS and DHS, involves buying data from brokers who aggregate information from apps and devices. The confirmation follows inquiries from Senator Ron Wyden and highlights ongoing debates about surveillance and digital privacy rights.
Background
Government agencies have increasingly turned to commercial data brokers to access location and other personal information, circumventing traditional warrant requirements. This practice has sparked legal and ethical debates about digital privacy and constitutional protections in the US.
- Source
- Hacker News (RSS)
- Published
- Mar 19, 2026 at 04:09 AM
- Score
- 9.0 / 10