US Spies Are Buying Americans' Private Data. Congress Has a New Chance to Stop It
www.wired.com
The National Defense Authorization Act now includes draft language forbidding government entities from buying Americans' search histories, location data, and more.
    • BrikoX@vlemmy.netOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      Buying from private companies allows them to:

      • Bypass laws that prevent their agencies from collecting Americans data
      • Avoid scrutiny as these sales are not public
      • knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml
        53·
        1 year ago

        I meant that the data these US based private companies have is easily accessible by US intelligence and law enforcement. So easily accessible that it’s essentially theirs already.

        These agencies avoid scrutiny as it is, and have the power to obtain said private data, whether it’s legal or not.

        This has all been public knowledge for a decade.

        • BrikoX@vlemmy.netOP
          1·
          1 year ago

          The difference is that they can’t use illgally obtain information publically even if they have it, but if they got the same information by buying it it’s perfectlly legal to use it in a court of law, etc.

          • knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml
            72·
            1 year ago

            I’m sure people appreciate the distinction when they’re being harassed, surveilled, detained, and assaulted by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

            There’s also a super hush hush court which signs off on a lot of information sharing, thus making it legal in other courts.