A recent study published by researchers from Duke University has shed light on the concerning availability of sensitive personal information of active-duty US military personnel for sale online through data brokers. The study found that data such as home addresses and health conditions of thousands of military personnel could be purchased inexpensively from these data brokers.
The researchers were able to acquire data on servicemembers, including their geolocation information, particularly those stationed near sensitive military locations like Fort Bragg and Quantico. Shockingly, some records were available for purchase at rates as low as $0.12 per record.
This discovery raises significant national security concerns, as it suggests the potential risk of foreign entities exploiting this easily accessible information to track the whereabouts and vulnerabilities of US military members. The researchers also highlighted the possibility of scammers using this data to stalk or blackmail military families.
The study exposed the wide-ranging data-broker ecosystem in the US, spanning from major credit reporting agencies to lesser-known analytics firms and mobile apps that clandestinely sell users’ location data. The existing legal framework in the US has limited restrictions on the buying and selling of such personal data.
Justin Sherman, a senior fellow at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy, emphasized the ease with which this data could be obtained, pointing out the lack of stringent background checks or safeguards in the purchasing process. He underlined the potential risk, stating that if an academic study team could access this data, a foreign adversary could do so effortlessly to profile, blackmail, or target military personnel.
While data brokers legitimately purchase personal information for various purposes like background and credit checks, their practices have drawn increased scrutiny from regulators. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission are exploring new rules to impose limitations on data brokers to protect consumer privacy.
Senator Ron Wyden has called for comprehensive solutions to address the issues posed by data brokers, emphasizing the need to protect Americans’ data from potential threats. The Department of Defense has acknowledged the challenges posed by the abundance of commercially available information, stressing the importance of robust safeguards to protect the privacy interests of military personnel.
Both the Pentagon and the US intelligence community have long expressed concerns about the exploitation of personal data by foreign spies. A declassified US intelligence report highlighted the considerable privacy risks associated with the vast amount of personal data available for sale online, emphasizing its use as a tool for intelligence gathering.
In response to these concerns, the Pentagon imposed restrictions in 2018 on deployed personnel using fitness trackers, smartphones, and geolocation-enabled dating apps, following an incident involving the unintentional disclosure of security force locations through a fitness tracking app. The Pentagon reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the privacy of its personnel and addressing the threats arising from the commercial availability of personal data.
Find the latest supply chain report news at The Supply Chain Report. For international trade tools, see ADAMftd.com.
#DataBrokers #MilitaryPrivacy #DataExploitation #NationalSecurity #PersonalDataRisks #DukeUniversityStudy #GeolocationData #USMilitaryPrivacy #DataPrivacyConcerns #DataBrokerRegulation #ConsumerProtection #PentagonSecurity #MilitaryDataBreach #SensitiveInformation #MilitaryFamilies #PrivacyLaws #CyberSecurity #DataBrokerConcerns #DefensePrivacy #TechRegulation #ForeignEspionage #DukeSanfordSchool #SenatorRonWyden #FTC #CFPB #DoDPrivacy #TechRegulation
