Your data is everywhere. The government is buying it without a warrant

NPR
by Jude Joffe-Block
March 25, 2026
1 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Federal agencies buy your location and browsing data from brokers without warrants, bypassing Fourth Amendment protections.

How This Affects You

Law enforcement can track your movements and online activity without a warrant by purchasing your data from commercial brokers, exposing your location history and web searches to government surveillance.

AI Summary

Government agencies including ICE are purchasing bulk location and browsing data from commercial data brokers without obtaining warrants. Data brokers collect this information from cell phones and web browsers primarily for targeted advertising, then resell it to federal authorities. The practice allows law enforcement to circumvent traditional warrant requirements to access personal digital information on American citizens and others.

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