The US Government Bought A Tool To Track Who Visits Abortion Clinics... Across State Lines
Privacy advocates gained access to a powerful tool bought by U.S. law enforcement agencies that can track smartphone locations around the world. Abortion clinics, places of worship, and individual peo
The US government bought a tool to allow them to track who visits abortion clinics.
Yes, you heard that correctly. The United States government is tracking cellphones that visit abortion clinics, including devices that cross state lines. This is not a case of the government supoena-ing a health tracker app such as period trackers. Whistleblowers have provided us with a glimpse into the power of this tool.
They have purchased a tool called Locate X, created by Babel Street, that allows law enforcement agencies to track smartphone locations around the world. Abortion clinics, places of worship, and individual people can all be monitored without a warrant.
Leakers showed the program in action, and demonstrated as a phone went from Alabama where abortion is illegal, to an abortion clinic in Florida, back again.
“Whether location data is being used to identify and expose closeted gay Americans, or to track people as they cross state lines to seek reproductive health care, data brokers are selling Americans' deepest secrets and exposing them to serious harm, all for a few bucks. These services could do terrible harm in the hands of MAGA politicians like Donald Trump and JD Vance, who are determined to drag our country backward and rip away the rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies,” Senator Wyden said.
Regardless of who holds the reins, a tool like this is terrifying. Also note many US State privacy laws do not apply to government, meaning the government collection and use of our personal data can be done without a warrant.
This is insane. Does privacy even exist anymore? What do you guys think?
Source: https://shorturl.at/w9h7M