US law enforcement agency ICE has gained access to a powerful surveillance tool that can track the location of every phone in a given neighborhood, providing a granular picture of where people live, work, and visit. The technology, known as Tangles and Webloc, is provided by Penlink, a company that aggregates vast amounts of commercial location data.
According to materials obtained by 404 Media, Penlink's tools can be used to monitor entire neighborhoods or city blocks for mobile phones, allowing ICE agents to track devices over time. This level of surveillance could potentially reveal sensitive information about individuals, including their daily routines and interactions with others.
Critics say that this new tool is a "very dangerous" one in the hands of an agency with little oversight. Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy project director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, warned that the granular location information provided by Penlink can paint a detailed picture of who we are, where we go, and who we spend time with.
This latest development comes as ICE has been accused of using aggressive tactics in its enforcement actions. In December, a federal agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis during an enforcement action, sparking calls for greater accountability within the agency.
The Penlink technology is just one example of how law enforcement agencies are increasingly turning to surveillance tools to monitor individuals. Other stories this week include reports that an AI-powered chatbot named Grok has been generating graphic content, including violent sexual images and videos, on social media platforms, despite being banned from some apps.
Meanwhile, in other news, Iran has shut down its internet amid growing mass protests calling for reform within the country's brutal regime. The move comes as part of a wider crackdown by authorities to limit the spread of news and communication among protesters.
In another development, an alleged $15 billion scam-center boss has been extradited to China from Cambodia, sparking concerns about the global reach of organized crime syndicates.
According to materials obtained by 404 Media, Penlink's tools can be used to monitor entire neighborhoods or city blocks for mobile phones, allowing ICE agents to track devices over time. This level of surveillance could potentially reveal sensitive information about individuals, including their daily routines and interactions with others.
Critics say that this new tool is a "very dangerous" one in the hands of an agency with little oversight. Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy project director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, warned that the granular location information provided by Penlink can paint a detailed picture of who we are, where we go, and who we spend time with.
This latest development comes as ICE has been accused of using aggressive tactics in its enforcement actions. In December, a federal agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis during an enforcement action, sparking calls for greater accountability within the agency.
The Penlink technology is just one example of how law enforcement agencies are increasingly turning to surveillance tools to monitor individuals. Other stories this week include reports that an AI-powered chatbot named Grok has been generating graphic content, including violent sexual images and videos, on social media platforms, despite being banned from some apps.
Meanwhile, in other news, Iran has shut down its internet amid growing mass protests calling for reform within the country's brutal regime. The move comes as part of a wider crackdown by authorities to limit the spread of news and communication among protesters.
In another development, an alleged $15 billion scam-center boss has been extradited to China from Cambodia, sparking concerns about the global reach of organized crime syndicates.
This is so creepy, right? Like, who wants their every move tracked down to the smallest detail? But on the other hand, think about how it could help prevent crimes and keep people safe... 
Wait, no, that's exactly what's wrong with it - we shouldn't need our movements tracked down to do that. It's like, we're already so monitored as it is, with smartphones and stuff. I'm totally against this, but at the same time, I kinda get why they'd want it... 
Can't decide. The whole thing just feels super invasive and potentially super damaging... 
! I mean, think about it, a surveillance tool that can track every phone in a neighborhood? That's like something out of a dystopian movie. And it's not just the fact that it exists, but also who has access to it - an agency with no oversight 
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It's not like they're above the law just because they have a fancy tool to track people down.
This is super worrying for me. Think about all the times I've taken a pic with my friends and posted it on socials - now think about ICE tracking every single person in that neighborhood. It's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but it's real life, right? 
We need to talk about who has access to this tech and how we can make sure it doesn't get misused. I'm also thinking about all the ppl who live in low-income neighborhoods - they're already dealing with so much stress & anxiety, do we really need this level of surveillance? 
And with the ACLU saying it's "very dangerous" in the hands of ICE, I gotta agree. We need some serious oversight on this one ASAP! 
. Like, seriously, what's next? A tool that can track every single person in a city? It's like something straight outta Minority Report or some sci-fi movie... but nope, this is real life. And who gets to decide how this surveillance power is used? ICE, because they're basically above the law now 
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I mean, who needs Google Maps when you've got Tangles & Webloc, right? 
It's like they're trying to track our every move so they can figure out what's for lunch 
. But seriously, are we ready for a world where the cops know where everyone's been and who they've hung out with? It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie... or a reality TV show that just doesn't want to end 
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Or worse, what if ICE uses it to target minorities or certain groups? It's a slippery slope, folks... 
. But hey, at least they're consistent, right? First it's tracking your phone, now it's making your ex jealous... what's next? 
like it's only fair that ICE is able to track people's movements and stuff... but at the same time, it's super creepy and invasive - what if they use it to spy on innocent people? 
is it just me or are we totally getting a glimpse into some dystopian future here... but at the same time, I kinda see why this stuff can be used for good too - like, tracking down real criminals and stuff. 
if we could just track down people who are breaking the law without being all invasive and creepy... but then again, what's to say that won't happen with ICE already having questionable practices? 
. This Penlink tech is a recipe for disaster 
. We gotta think about our right to privacy here 
. It's like, they can see where we live, work, and hang out... that's way too much info 
I'm not saying ICE is the only one using this tech, but geez, let's get some oversight in place 
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. What's next, tracking our every move? It feels like we're losing control of our own lives over here... 
. The thing is, once you have access to all that data, it's not hard to see how it can be used against us. It's like a digital double-edged sword 
. We need to think about what we want our society to look like and how we want to govern ourselves. I guess the question is, are we okay with sacrificing some of our freedoms for the sake of security? 
We gotta protect our 4th Amendment rights and make sure our government isn't abusing its power