Data is everywhere. The government is buying it without a warrant
4 hours ago
- #FISA
- #privacy
- #surveillance
- Government agencies purchase bulk data from brokers without warrants, bypassing Fourth Amendment protections.
- Section 702 of FISA is up for reauthorization, presenting an opportunity to close the data broker loophole.
- FBI and ICE use commercially available data, including cell phone location info, for surveillance purposes.
- AI enhances the power of purchased data, raising concerns about mass surveillance and privacy.
- Privacy advocates push for FISA reforms to end bulk data purchases and backdoor searches.
- Congress faces bipartisan opposition to tying FISA reauthorization with surveillance reforms.
- Courts have not ruled on the legality of government bulk data purchases, leaving it a gray area.
- Advocates cite Supreme Court precedent (Carpenter v. US) to argue against warrantless data acquisition.
- AI's ability to analyze bulk data at scale exacerbates privacy risks and surveillance capabilities.