Team Favorite: Police Are Tracking Down Suspects With Google User Data
Dec 26, 2023
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Bloomberg reporters Davey Alba and Julia Love discuss the use of Google's location data in law enforcement, weighing the pros and cons. Detective Travis Staab shares how he and his colleagues have tracked down suspects using this information. The episode explores privacy concerns and the process of obtaining Google geofence warrants.
Police departments in the US are increasingly using Google user data to track down suspects in criminal investigations, raising privacy concerns.
Google takes measures to anonymize the user data provided to law enforcement, using alphanumeric codes instead of specific user information.
Deep dives
Widespread Use of Google Data by Police Departments in the US
Police departments across the US are increasingly seeking warrants to acquire location and user data from Google. These requests have risen significantly over the years, with Google receiving more than 60,000 search warrants in the US last year, double the number from 2019. While these warrants provide law enforcement with valuable information, privacy concerns arise due to the vast pool of personal data involved. Users' location information, obtained through Wi-Fi hotspots, GPS, and cell tower connections, is heavily relied upon. However, Google takes measures to anonymize the data, providing authorities with alphanumeric codes rather than specific user information. The success rate of these warrants varies, but they have been used to investigate a range of crimes, from serious offenses like murder and armed robbery to more minor offenses such as theft and vandalism.
The Process of Obtaining and Utilizing Google Data
To obtain data from Google, law enforcement officers must obtain search warrants from judges. These warrants specify the geographical area and time frame of interest, within which devices and their associated location information are requested. Google retains data from various sources like GPS, Wi-Fi hotspots, and cell towers, allowing the company to estimate device locations within a few feet. The information provided to law enforcement is anonymized, with lengthy alphanumeric codes instead of identifying user information. Law enforcement then filters and analyzes the data to narrow down potentially involved devices and users. If necessary, a subsequent warrant may be issued to obtain more details about specific devices and account information.
Privacy Concerns and Google's Approach
The use of Google data by law enforcement raises privacy concerns, with the potential for individuals to be wrongfully targeted or arrested. Google is cognizant of privacy issues and attempts to balance law enforcement requests with user privacy protection. The company has a team dedicated to reviewing search warrants and subpoenas, pushing back against overbroad or inappropriate demands. While they comply with valid warrants, Google provides anonymized device IDs and limited information, aiming to safeguard user privacy. They support legislative reform to establish clear guidelines surrounding access to user data and advocate for limits on the overuse of gag orders. However, privacy advocates argue that Google should not have access to such extensive personal data in the first place.
We're taking a break for the holidays, so here's an episode you might have missed.
Google is able to collect a lot of information about the people who use its products on their phones, including where they are at any given time. A growing number of police departments across the US are seeking to obtain this data from Google to help solve crimes. Bloomberg’s Davey Alba and Julia Love join this episode to weigh the pros and cons of using location data in law enforcement, and the privacy concerns it raises. And Travis Staab, a police detective in Arizona, shares how he and his colleagues have used the information to track down suspects.
