Investigation Uncovers Data Brokers Tracking Phones Through Ads

A Comprehensive Look at the Locate X Tracking Network

In a startling revelation, an investigation conducted by a data privacy group has unveiled a large tracking network known as Locate X. This tracking service raises significant concerns regarding personal privacy by enabling users to trace a person's mobile phone movements based on its mobile advertising identifier.

What is Locate X?

Locate X, operated by Babel Street, allows users to monitor the precise location of mobile devices via their unique mobile advertising identifiers assigned by tech giants like Google and Apple. According to reports, a New Jersey-based organization, Atlas Data Privacy Corp, discovered that this software can visually represent the locations of mobile phones on a map, effectively allowing any authorized user to track individuals across state lines.

Unprecedented Access to Personal Information

By displaying clusters of phones in specific locations, such as abortion clinics, Locate X raises alarming privacy concerns. A recent screen recording highlighted a scenario where a single device was followed from an Alabama residence, to a Lowe’s store, a church, and ultimately to a Florida abortion clinic. This tracking capability becomes particularly controversial considering the differing abortion laws between states.

Implications of Location Tracking Post-Roe v. Wade

The implications of the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade have propagated worries about the accessibility of location data. With Alabama prohibiting abortion and Florida imposing a six-week ban, individuals seeking healthcare services face potential legal consequences. Consequently, firms such as Google have implemented measures to auto-delete records of visits to abortion clinics from users' location histories.

How Does Locate X Operate?

Babel Street employs mobile advertising IDs to compile a profile around each user's device. Advertisers leverage this information to provide targeted advertisements, creating a detailed map of users' digital movements. This data facilitates the establishment of tracking services like Locate X, compounding privacy breaches.

Legitimate Use and Limitations

While access to Locate X is ostensibly restricted to government agencies—such as the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security—the investigation by Atlas Data Privacy Corp raised questions about compliance with these limits. After hiring a private investigator to contact Babel Street, they found instances where the sales team was open to bending the rules.

Concerns of Oversight

The investigator, posing as a potential customer, learned that sales representatives were willing to overlook the mandatory compliance checks for tracking services like Locate X. This bypassing of checks demonstrates potential vulnerabilities in monitoring who can access such sensitive information.

Atlas Data Privacy Corp's Legal Action

In light of these findings, Atlas Data Privacy Corp has filed a lawsuit against Babel Street for alleged violations of New Jersey’s data privacy laws. As privacy concerns continue to escalate, the outcome of this case may play a crucial role in how data privacy laws evolve in the face of advanced technology.

Conclusion: The Future of Data Privacy

The Locate X tracking software is a critical reminder of the importance of data privacy. As technology advances, so does the potential for misuse of personal information. Consumers need to remain vigilant of how their data is collected, used, and protected.