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US law enforcement using LocateX to unlawfully track citizens

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  • 3 min read

LocateX a location-tracking software developed by Babel Street, can monitor the movements of individuals visiting sensitive locations, such as abortion clinics, religious places like mosques and synagogues, and children attending schools. The tool, widely used by U.S. law enforcement without a warrant, can trace smartphones with alarming precision, sparking fears about its potential to target vulnerable groups amid escalating state-level restrictions.

Privacy advocates warn that this software could deepen surveillance, especially against marginalised communities, as reproductive rights face increasing political and legal threats.

A video accessed by journalists shows LocateX pinpointing over 700 smartphones in and around an abortion clinic in the southern U.S., each representing a person who may have visited the clinic, reports 404Media. By zeroing in on one device, the tool traced a journey from Alabama, a state with strict abortion laws, to the clinic in Florida, where abortion access is still available in some cases.

The traveller’s precise movements — stopping at a home improvement store, a gas station, a churn, and finally, the clinic — were all easily mapped out, raising serious concerns about the privacy of individuals seeking reproductive health services.

The LocateX tool’s data is derived from the mobile advertising ecosystem, a vast network of apps and online platforms that collect and sell location data as part of routine digital marketing operations. This data, often harvested from apps on users’ phones, is then sold to brokers who, in turn, supply companies like Babel Street.

Photo: Trismegist san / Shutterstock.com
Tools like LocateX have been helping law enforcement to unlawfully track citizens. | Photo: Trismegist san / Shutterstock.com

Although tech giants like Google claim to deploy measures to stop data leaks, the reality is a bit different. Last year, The Washington Post investigated and revealed that Google isn’t deleting users’ sensitive location data.

Furthermore, a new study by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) revealed that Google made about $10 million over two years from misleading abortion ads. A few weeks ago, reports came out that Apple is fostering a closer relationship with law enforcement agencies and has hosted private conferences for this purpose.

“Android has clear controls for users to manage app access to device location and reset or delete their advertising ID. If we learn that someone, whether an app developer, ad tech company or anyone else, is violating our policies, we take appropriate action. Beyond that, we support legislation and industry collaboration to address these types of data practices that negatively affect the entire mobile ecosystem, including all operating systems,” a Google spokesperson told 404Media.

While Babel Street primarily markets LocateX to law enforcement, it was revealed that private investigators could also access the tool by posting as potential government contractors. Atlas Privacy, a data removal firm advocating for privacy rights, accessed a free trial of LocateX and demonstrated its capabilities by tracking visitors to sensitive locations, including abortion clinics, synagogues, mosques, and schools.

The fallout of this investigation extends beyond abortion rights. LocateX’s data, including unique mobile advertising identifiers (MAID) linked to each phone, can also target those with opposing views, minorities, and children. With over 88,000 location signals collected from just one phone, the scale of surveillance is massive and invasive.

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Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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