The FBI is buying Americans’ location data
FBI Director Kash Patel testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. | Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
FBI director Kash Patel admitted that the agency is buying location data that can be used to track people's movements. Unlike information obtained from cellphone providers, this data can be accessed without a warrant - and used to track anyone.
"We do purchase commercially available information that's consistent with the Constitution and the laws under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and it has led to some valuable intelligence for us," Patel said at a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.
Patel would not commit to senators' requests that the agency stop buying Americans' location data. "Doing that wit …