Companies and other corporations buy user data by the handful, and this practice is no longer limited to a certain region. In almost every country, you can expect things to happen. Banks, mobile carriers, government, intelligence agencies, you name it, and someone has paid heavily for your data in some form or another. Now, a newly declassified report has emerged confirming that U.S. intelligence and spy agencies have been buying the personal data of the citizens residing in the country.
Commercially available information contains location information, web browsing activity, and more, and it is regularly purchased by the FBI and other intelligence agencies
The Office of the Directorate of National Intelligence (ODNI) shared a declassified report that shows just how much data is being purchased, and what's even more interesting is that this data is being classified as commercially available information. While it should not surprise anyone that the FBI does pay for your user data, it still is a concern for a lot of people.
Now, for those wondering where this CAI comes from and how does FBI get a hold of it. Well, it is worth noting that your phones are not the only usual suspect. Sure, they are on the top of the list, but connected cars, IoT devices, cookies, and public records have become the main source of where this data is gathered from. The data involves location information, your web browsing activity, social media information, and more, and yes, it does sound scary and disturbing that everything that you have searched for on Google is being monitored by more than one authority.
Of course, considering the gravity of the situation, the U.S. intelligence agencies like the FBI do not directly involve in buying all this data. The exchange happens through what could be best described as data brokers, who act as middle person when it comes to selling user data.
If you read the full report listed above, it mentions how the data that this intelligence purchased usually is undisclosed, which means even if the FBI has the data, it does not know who the data belongs to. However, there are several ways to disclose the data and actually identify the individual to whom this belongs. And yes, if you are wondering whether the information acquired can be used for malicious purposes, then that is the case, as mentioned in the report. The report reads,
“In the wrong hands, sensitive insights gained through CAI could facilitate blackmail, stalking, harassment, and public shaming."
Sadly, the whole process of buying commercially available information does threaten civil liberties considering how using this information; authorities could gain access to identifying people who take part in certain protests or rallies, which of course, is a threat to freedom.
Despite the severity of the situation, it is sad to say that this is not going to change anything. U.S. Intelligence agencies are not the only ones taking part in this data purchasing as several other companies in the past have done the same. Sadly, there is little to nothing we can do to change anything, and honestly, it is better that way because if you do live your life by the book, then you have nothing to worry about.
