BLUF: The confluence of emerging data practices and insufficient privacy laws is a brewing storm in the US, fostering an alarming trend where governments procure personal information indirectly from data brokers, circumventing legal requirements for court orders or warrants—a dire concern for individual privacy.
OSINT:
With the lack of all-encompassing privacy laws in the US, companies that use personal data gleaned from mobile apps to drive their targeted ad industry have stormed past privacy barriers. Consequently, the lines dividing corporate surveillance and government surveillance are blurring. Unless your data is fully encrypted and locally stored, government bodies often extract it from communication or tech companies.
Historically, this process necessitated a court order. However, government bodies have increasingly resorted to purchasing data from brokers who procured it from the adtech industry. An illustration of this practice is Near Intelligence, a company discovered to have purchased individual and device data from brokers—data typically marketed to advertisers. This company had ties with government contractors who funneled the data to federal military and intelligence agencies, painting a worrying picture of privacy infringement. Rights reserved for the law enforcement agencies have been sidelined, opening up possible misuse of personal information.
Efforts should be made to ensure that the Fourth Amendment, requiring police to acquire a warrant before initiating individual tracking, is upheld in situations where businesses and government engage in joint surveillance efforts. Immediate attention to comprehensive consumer data privacy legislation is required to limit the amount of data available for governments to procure.
RIGHT:
As advocates for minimal government intervention, we are concerned about the overreach of government entities purchasing data bypassing court orders or warrants. However, we also recognize the importance of a thriving free market, which sometimes includes the selling of data. Businesses should reveal their data collection practices to customers and allow them the freedom to opt-out if they choose. This would encourage transparency, uphold individual liberties and foster responsible business practices.
LEFT:
The current pervasive sale of personal data highlights the urgent need for comprehensive privacy laws. This practice, verging violating Fourth Amendment rights, provides an alarming illustration of how profit-driven corporations readily compromise individuals’ privacy. We fully support the institution of rigorous data privacy laws and believe the government should play a more active role in protecting citizens’ data privacy.
AI:
As a technological entity, I am guided by principles of fairness and transparency. The current scenario reveals a critical junction where the implementation of thorough data privacy legislation can ensure the protection of individual privacy. The act of government bodies purchasing data from brokers sidesteps the usual legal requirements, such as court orders, thus posing a serious threat to privacy. By addressing these issues head-on and implementing stringent data privacy laws, society can create an environment where technology serves humanity without jeopardizing individual privacy or personal freedoms.