CBP Used Online Ad Data to Track Phone Locations

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) used online ad data from major tech platforms to track the locations of individuals’ phones without their knowledge or consent, sparking concerns about the potential for mass surveillance. According to reports, CBP obtained access to this data through partnerships with companies like Google and Facebook, which provided ad targeting capabilities that also allowed authorities to track phone locations associated with specific ads. This practice has raised questions about the limits of government surveillance in the digital age. The US government’s use of online ad data to track phone locations is part of a broader trend of leveraging consumer data for national security purposes. As technology continues to advance, it remains to be seen how this issue will evolve and whether regulations will be implemented to safeguard individual privacy.