Privacy Advocates Sound Alarm on ‘Data Broker Loophole’ Used by FBI, Other Federal Agencies

Privacy advocates sound alarm on ‘data broker loophole’ used by FBI, other federal agencies

The data broker loophole is top of mind for privacy advocates following FBI Director Kash Patel’s congressional testimony earlier this week, during which he confirmed the Department of Justice component is paying for data that is then used in law enforcement operations.  When asked by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., if he could commit to not buying Americans’ location data, Patel said the FBI “uses all tools” to do its mission.  “We do purchase commerci…

FBI’s Purchase of Data Sparks Privacy Concerns

Concerns are mounting over the FBI’s recent acquisition of vast data sets from commercial sources, prompting debate about privacy, oversight, and the extent of government surveillance in the digital age.