US government ramps up mass surveillance with help of AI tech, data brokers – and your apps and devices

To augment information about you that it collects directly, the US Government is buying less-regulated information harvested by cameras, cellphones and apps and sold on the commercial data market.

By: Anne Toomey McKenna, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 21, 2026

Words: 1,659

Last Updated: 3 months, 1 week ago

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By Anne Toomey McKenna, Penn State

On a Saturday morning, you head to the hardware store. Your neighbors’ Ring cameras film your walk to the car. Your car’s sensors, cameras and microphones record your speed, how you drive, where you’re going, who’s with you, what you say, and biological metrics such as facial expression, weight and heart rate. Your car may also collect text messages and contacts from your connected smartphone.

Meanwhile, your …

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