The FBI is buying Americans’ location data
By Gaby Del Valle
Published on March 18, 2026.
The FBI has admitted to purchasing commercially available location data, which can be used to track individuals' movements without a warrant. Unlike cell phone data obtained by law enforcement agencies, this data can be accessed without the need for a warrant and can be obtained through private data brokers. However, Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, defended the FBI's purchase, stating that the information is commercially available and has yielded valuable intelligence.
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