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Personal boundaries blur when apps know everything about you.
Atlas Data Privacy Corp. has filed a lawsuit against Babel Street, accusing it of violating data privacy and using surveillance services. According to the lawsuit, Babel Street provides US law enforcement agencies with access to the LocateX platform, which allows you to track the movement of people on their mobile devices using a unique identifier MAID built into Android and iOS smartphones.
Atlas alleges that its investigator was able to track the mobile devices of New Jersey police officers by gaining trial access to LocateX, despite actions aimed at protecting their data under the Daniel Act. This law was passed after the tragic death of Daniel Anderl, the son of a federal judge, in an attack in 2020, and provides law enforcement officers and judges with the ability to delete their personal data from brokers' databases.
During its investigation, Atlas revealed that Babel Street uses geofencing to monitor high-sensitivity sites such as mosques, courts, and even abortion clinics. The investigator also found it possible to track the movements of clinic employees and obtain data on their home address. In one episode, the platform was used to spy on a woman who was crossing the state line to visit an abortion clinic.
Atlas argues that such technologies jeopardize the safety of employees whose data is used without their consent, as well as pose risks to people under pressure due to political rhetoric or conspiracy theories.
One of the plaintiffs, New Jersey Police Officer Scott Maloney, said his family was threatened after their details were published online. The Babel Street platform recorded almost 100 thousand events related to his wife, also a police officer, which made it possible to collect detailed information about her movements.
Google and Apple deny linking to Babel Street, saying their systems do not transmit accurate location data for advertising purposes. However, Atlas and other experts say that thanks to an extensive network of brokers and advertising services, location data is becoming available to almost everyone.
Atlas' lawyers insist that the use of such data for commercial purposes violates the law and should not be considered freedom of speech. The case is expected to spark constitutional controversy and could reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Atlas emphasizes the need to impose strict controls on the activities of data brokers to prevent abuse and protect the privacy of citizens. Meanwhile, some states have already begun drafting laws similar to Daniel's law to strengthen protections for the judiciary and law enforcement.
Source
Atlas Data Privacy Corp. has filed a lawsuit against Babel Street, accusing it of violating data privacy and using surveillance services. According to the lawsuit, Babel Street provides US law enforcement agencies with access to the LocateX platform, which allows you to track the movement of people on their mobile devices using a unique identifier MAID built into Android and iOS smartphones.
Atlas alleges that its investigator was able to track the mobile devices of New Jersey police officers by gaining trial access to LocateX, despite actions aimed at protecting their data under the Daniel Act. This law was passed after the tragic death of Daniel Anderl, the son of a federal judge, in an attack in 2020, and provides law enforcement officers and judges with the ability to delete their personal data from brokers' databases.
During its investigation, Atlas revealed that Babel Street uses geofencing to monitor high-sensitivity sites such as mosques, courts, and even abortion clinics. The investigator also found it possible to track the movements of clinic employees and obtain data on their home address. In one episode, the platform was used to spy on a woman who was crossing the state line to visit an abortion clinic.
Atlas argues that such technologies jeopardize the safety of employees whose data is used without their consent, as well as pose risks to people under pressure due to political rhetoric or conspiracy theories.
One of the plaintiffs, New Jersey Police Officer Scott Maloney, said his family was threatened after their details were published online. The Babel Street platform recorded almost 100 thousand events related to his wife, also a police officer, which made it possible to collect detailed information about her movements.
Google and Apple deny linking to Babel Street, saying their systems do not transmit accurate location data for advertising purposes. However, Atlas and other experts say that thanks to an extensive network of brokers and advertising services, location data is becoming available to almost everyone.
Atlas' lawyers insist that the use of such data for commercial purposes violates the law and should not be considered freedom of speech. The case is expected to spark constitutional controversy and could reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Atlas emphasizes the need to impose strict controls on the activities of data brokers to prevent abuse and protect the privacy of citizens. Meanwhile, some states have already begun drafting laws similar to Daniel's law to strengthen protections for the judiciary and law enforcement.
Source
