The US military has a major privacy problem, and it’s not looking good. Researchers found out that all kinds of personal information about military members are up for sale, from their net worth to their homeowner status. This is a big deal for national security, and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
The data brokers in the US are selling highly sensitive information about military members, including their home addresses, health and financial details, and even the names of their family and friends. Shockingly, this information is available for purchase for as little as $0.12 per record. It’s like a privacy breach on sale!
A recent report from Duke University researchers revealed that data brokers are selling this kind of information with minimal checks to customers both in the US and overseas. This poses serious privacy and national security risks, and it’s a cause for concern.
The findings of the report caught the attention of members of Congress, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, who expressed their worries about the situation. Even Senator John Cornyn cited the report in a hearing on the harms of social media. It’s clear that this is a matter of national importance.
The researchers delved deeper into the types of data being sold by these brokers and how they operate. They were able to purchase a total of eight different data sets from three brokers, revealing just how personal and detailed the information is. The data includes everything from net worth to health conditions like diabetes. It’s shocking to see how much personal information is out there for sale.
What’s even more concerning is that these brokers are willing to sell this information to clients outside the US with minimal vetting. The researchers set up email addresses from both US-based and Asia-based domains and found that the brokers conducted minimal checks regardless of the inquiry’s origin. This means that sensitive information is being sold to anyone, anywhere, without much scrutiny.
The economic model of these brokers is equally alarming. The more data someone purchases, the cheaper it gets. This incentivizes clients to buy in bulk, eroding people’s privacy at a larger scale. The researchers found that the data they purchased ranged from $0.12 to $0.32 per record, making it incredibly cheap to violate the privacy of US military members.
As one of the report authors, Hayley Barton, pointed out, it seems like anyone with an email address, a bank account, and a few hundred dollars could acquire the same type of data that they did. It’s a scary thought.
The implications of this report are far-reaching and have raised serious concerns about national security and privacy. It’s a wake-up call for the US military and the government to take immediate action to protect the personal information of military members.
If you want to learn more about the study and its implications for US national security, check out the full report. It’s an eye-opener.
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