Citizen Lab: Law Enforcement Used Webloc to Track 500 Million Devices via Ad Data

What’s new: A report by Citizen Lab reveals that law enforcement agencies, including those in Hungary, El Salvador, and various U.S. departments, have utilized an advertising-based geolocation surveillance system called Webloc. This tool, developed by Cobwebs Technologies and now sold by Penlink, allows access to data from up to 500 million mobile devices, enabling tracking of individuals’ locations and behaviors without warrants.

Who’s affected

Law enforcement agencies in multiple countries, including U.S. entities such as ICE, the U.S. military, and various police departments, are implicated in using Webloc for surveillance. The system can track individuals’ movements and personal data, affecting privacy rights globally.

What to do

• Review and assess the use of location-based services and data within your organization to ensure compliance with privacy laws.
• Implement strict data access controls and monitoring to prevent unauthorized surveillance practices.
• Stay informed about the legal implications of using third-party surveillance tools and their impact on user privacy.

Sources

• The Hacker News