Databroker Files: Data brokers sell meter-accurate location data of EU personnel

The sale of precise location data for millions of EU citizens, including high-ranking officials, is raising significant security concerns. This data, collected under the guise of advertising, poses a potential espionage risk, highlighting a failure of European data protection measures. The EU Commission has expressed its concern regarding the situation. The investigation revealed that data brokers are selling location data, which includes the exact locations of individuals, potentially revealing sensitive information about their lives. Researchers analyzed datasets from multiple data brokers, with one example including around 278 million mobile phone location data points from Belgium. Each location is linked to a unique advertising ID, allowing for the tracking of individuals' movements. This data could expose the habits, workplaces, and even visits to sensitive locations of the tracked individuals. This directly affects EU citizens whose data is being sold, especially those in positions of power, making them vulnerable to surveillance. The implications extend to undermining the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU's digital sovereignty.