FBI Admits to Purchasing Americans' Location Data, Raising Concerns
FBI Director Kash Patel reveals under oath that the agency is buying location data on US citizens, sparking debate over digital privacy and surveillance.
FBI Director Kash Patel has admitted under oath that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has begun purchasing location data on American citizens, raising concerns over digital privacy and government surveillance. The admission came during questioning at the Senate intelligence committee worldwide threats hearing on Wednesday.
Patel's statement was in response to a question from Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who has long been an opponent of the warrantless surveillance of Americans. Wyden pointed out that Patel's predecessor, Christopher Wray, had testified in 2023 that the FBI did not at that time purchase location data derived from internet advertising, although he acknowledged that it had done so in the past.
Source: The Guardian
