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Data sets allow you to build a picture of the life of the average soldier.
A new report by researchers at Duke University reveals details about the sale of confidential data from US military personnel by data brokers. A study focusing on national security found that extremely detailed personal information about military personnel, veterans, and their families is sold for between $0.12 and $0.32 per entry.
Operating under the cover of domains .org and .asia, researchers have acquired vast amounts of data, including sensitive information about health and finances. Brokers also sold large amounts of data to people located in the geofences of major US military installations.
The authors of the report managed to buy information documenting such specific diseases of US military personnel as Alzheimer's disease, poor bladder control and hearing problems.
Data purchased for research purposes includes:
Some data sets include a column labeled "casino", which the team could not get an explanation for, but suggested that the column might be related to gambling history. While researchers didn't buy location data for soldiers phones, many data brokers offered it along with their web search history.
The problem caused a reaction from the US Senate, which proposed a bill to protect Americans data from exploitation by hostile countries. Senators stressed the need for a comprehensive solution to protect data from unfriendly states, instead of unproductive temporary measures such as banning TikTok.
The researchers question the lack of proper regulation of the industry and express concern that the data could be used to blackmail or compromise military personnel. Senta calls for action from Congress, pointing out the need to tighten control over the practice of data trading in the interests of national security.
A new report by researchers at Duke University reveals details about the sale of confidential data from US military personnel by data brokers. A study focusing on national security found that extremely detailed personal information about military personnel, veterans, and their families is sold for between $0.12 and $0.32 per entry.
Operating under the cover of domains .org and .asia, researchers have acquired vast amounts of data, including sensitive information about health and finances. Brokers also sold large amounts of data to people located in the geofences of major US military installations.
The authors of the report managed to buy information documenting such specific diseases of US military personnel as Alzheimer's disease, poor bladder control and hearing problems.
Data purchased for research purposes includes:
- full names;
- home addresses;
- email addresses;
- phone numbers;
- number of children in the family;
- estimated age of children;
- marital status;
- information about your health, finances, and religion.
Some data sets include a column labeled "casino", which the team could not get an explanation for, but suggested that the column might be related to gambling history. While researchers didn't buy location data for soldiers phones, many data brokers offered it along with their web search history.
The problem caused a reaction from the US Senate, which proposed a bill to protect Americans data from exploitation by hostile countries. Senators stressed the need for a comprehensive solution to protect data from unfriendly states, instead of unproductive temporary measures such as banning TikTok.
The researchers question the lack of proper regulation of the industry and express concern that the data could be used to blackmail or compromise military personnel. Senta calls for action from Congress, pointing out the need to tighten control over the practice of data trading in the interests of national security.
