Feds use target ad data to track your location

[Tradd]

Dang.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/0...t-just-ask-cbp

[bae]

Two random observations:

1) My S&R team has used cell IMSI triangulation to look for lost souls. IMSI-catchers are increasingly common, so beware...

https://sls.eff.org/technologies/cel...-imsi-catchers

2) I believe I recounted some years ago a curious incident. I went to visit with a friend on a nearby island who was interested in purchasing a high-end commercial freeze dryer for her farm business. We spent part of the day together. During that time, she Googled for technical and pricing information on some of the units she was interested in, and we visited another farm that had one installed. I performed no online searches for such gear, nor had I ever searched for that kind of information, nor did I after my return. I simply spent the day in physical proximity to someone who *was* making those searches. For the next few weeks, I received targeted ads for commercial freeze-drying equipment. This was about 6-7 years ago I think. Somehow they associated my device with hers purely due to physical proximity. I had location services off that day, as I usually keep it off.

3) I did some consulting work after Jan. 6. to help develop statistical models to detect "associations" between different peoples' cell phones and movements. I was surprised at the amount of useful raw data that was being collected...

[KayLR]

Well that just makes me feel awesome.��

[catherine]

I went to visit with a friend on a nearby island who was interested in purchasing a high-end commercial freeze dryer for her farm business. We spent part of the day together. During that time, she Googled for technical and pricing information on some of the units she was interested in, and we visited another farm that had one installed. I performed no online searches for such gear, nor had I ever searched for that kind of information, nor did I after my return. I simply spent the day in physical proximity to someone who *was* making those searches. For the next few weeks, I received targeted ads for commercial freeze-drying equipment. This was about 6-7 years ago I think. Somehow they associated my device with hers purely due to physical proximity. I had location services off that day, as I usually keep it off.
.

I've been convinced (wrongly, I'm sure, given how technologically illiterate I am) that Facebook can "hear" me.We were out on the boat in the middle of the lake a couple of years ago when I asked my son-in-law how his parents were doing, and how work was going for them. They are both flight attendants for a major airline that flies out of Baltimore. Well, I started getting Facebook ads for that same airline. I did not have Facebook open on my phone at the time, but my phone was with me.

[iris lilies]

I've been convinced (wrongly, I'm sure, given how technologically illiterate I am) that Facebook can "hear" me.We were out on the boat in the middle of the lake a couple of years ago when I asked my son-in-law how his parents were doing, and how work was going for them. They are both flight attendants for a major airline that flies out of Baltimore. Well, I started getting Facebook ads for that same airline. I did not have Facebook open on my phone at the time, but my phone was with me.

I have not received any creepy communications from Facebook, that I noticed anyway.


Of course I get endless ads on Facebook from the things I’ve googled and things I’ve clicked while on Facebook because of course why wouldn’t Facebook show me more of those ads? I’m such a Dipshit senior citizen that I even have purchased a couple of things directly from Facebook ads.

Oh, I’m sure they love me, the Facebook gods.

[pinkytoe]

It does not surprise me that we are surveilled everywhere now. We have a running joke that the toaster is listening to us since there seem to be coincidental FB posts. Maybe it's the TV? We are totally boring consumers and internet users. With such an onslaught of ads, they must believe that we buy stuff all day long.

[LDAHL]

I sometimes feel like more people (real or artificial) are watching me than watch MS NOW in prime time.

I’m limiting my expectation of privacy to the confessional and singing in the shower.

[Rogar]

It does not surprise me that we are surveilled everywhere now. We have a running joke that the toaster is listening to us since there seem to be coincidental FB posts. Maybe it's the TV? We are totally boring consumers and internet users. With such an onslaught of ads, they must believe that we buy stuff all day long.

My barber is convinced that her cell phone passively listens to her non-phone verbal conversations with customers and then feeds her targeted ads based on the in person discussions. Previously noted under the conspiracy theory thread.

One of the sticking points for the Pentagon's contract with Anthropic is that they did not want it's AI programs to be used for citizen surveillance by the government. I suspect Big Brother will find a work around anyway.

[LDAHL]

My barber is convinced that her cell phone passively listens to her non-phone verbal conversations with customers and then feeds her targeted ads based on the in person discussions. Previously noted under the conspiracy theory thread.

One of the sticking points for the Pentagon's contract with Anthropic is that they did not want it's AI programs to be used for citizen surveillance by the government. I suspect Big Brother will find a work around anyway.

Honestly I’m more worried about data brokers than I am about the security state. DHS never tried to sell me crypto.

[iris lilies]

I just wish they would stop trying to sell me penis enlargers. Tho to be fair, my spam filter keeps most of the smut out.