Law enforcement agencies of the USA buy a geolocation of users from popular applications

In the middle of August, 2020 it became known that law enforcement agencies of the USA buy the data on location of phones collected using popular applications. According to the Motherboard edition, Secret service of the USA purchased a product under the name Locate X from the Babel Street company specializing in tools to observation of social networks.

Locate X can monitor movements of the mobile phone, using the data on a geolocation collected by different applications. The application it is confidential, and its existence is confidential information. Using Locate X, investigation could identify devices which were in the specified area during certain time and to monitor their movements several months prior to this event. It is noted that the American authorities use the solutions Babel Street since 2017.

Law enforcement agencies of the USA buy a geolocation of users from popular applications

Usually law enforcement agencies need to receive the order or the court order for collection of information about movements of people. It turned out that they just buy data bypassing the judicial system, and this opening should have far-reaching effects. According to the internal document, intelligence of the USA paid nearly $36,000 for an annual subscription to service, and in general paid Babel Street companies about $2 million for products for observation on social networks. Federal documents show that Locate X was also used by the customs and border service of the USA.

It is obvious that several federal agencies purchased data of Americans to bypass the Fourth amendment, - senator RON Wyden considers, meaning that the Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches. Wyden mentioned that he already drafts the law which should stop this activity.[1]

Notes