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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.
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Quick takeaways
- 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.
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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.
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