FBI Confirms Buying Data That Could Be Used to Track Americans
FBI Director Kash Patel admitted under oath at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday that the agency buys data that can be used to track Americans.
This recognition came after a question from Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon. Wyden noted that in 2023, former FBI Director Christopher Wray said that to his knowledge, the FBI had not purchased commercial data that included location information from Internet advertising at that time.
“Is this still the case, and if so, can you commit this morning not to buy Americans’ location data?” Wyden asked Patel.
Patel responded that the FBI uses “every tool to accomplish our mission.” He added: “We purchase commercially available information that complies with the Constitution and laws under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and this has allowed us to obtain valuable intelligence that we can use with our private sectors and partners.”
After Patel’s admission Wednesday, Wyden responded: “So you’re saying the agency will buy Americans’ location data.”
Wyden argued that doing so without a warrant is an “outrageous” way to circumvent the Fourth Amendment and warned that it was particularly risky as AI is used to analyze large amounts of personal data.
Wyden said that’s why Congress should pass the Government Oversight Reform Act. However, this admission also highlights a larger problem: Anyone with access to the Internet can obtain sensitive information about Americans for the right price.
An FBI representative said the agency had no further comment beyond Patel’s remarks.
The FBI’s admission that it purchased data opens a new chapter in the ongoing debate over Internet privacy. While websites and apps routinely collect personal information, buying data allows law enforcement to circumvent traditional legal safeguards, such as obtaining a warrant, raising new questions about privacy in the digital age.
