Yes, the government can track your location – but usually not by spying on you directly

By: Emilee Rader, University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 3, 2025

Words: 1,057

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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By Emilee Rader, University of Wisconsin-Madison

If you use a mobile phone with location services turned on, it is likely that data about where you live and work, where you shop for groceries, where you go to church and see your doctor, and where you traveled to over the holidays is up for sale. And U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is one of the customers.

The U.S. government doesn’t need to collect data about people’s …

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