Multiple Federal Agencies Illegally Used Americans’ Smartphone Location Data

A watchdog has faulted a number of federal agencies for buying and using commercially available data on Americans illegally and without proper procedures.

A security camera is seen in New York City, on July 9, 2007. Mario Tama/Getty Images

A previously secret watchdog report reveals that multiple federal agencies obtained and used Americans’ smartphone location data illegally and with insufficient guardrails in place to protect privacy.

A newly released bombshell report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) found that three federal agencies broke the law when procuring and using commercially available location data harvested from ordinary apps installed on users’ smartphones.