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Kash Patel confirms FBI buys your data instead of getting a warrant [1]

['Séamus Bellamy']

Date: 2026-03-23  

If you feel that having your personal information sold is a fair price for playing a free smartphone game or finding out which Game of Thrones character you are via Facebook, you'll be happy to know the federal government is thrilled you think you're getting a square deal. During a Senate hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed his agency buys information from data brokers — companies that collect and sell personal data scraped from apps, websites, and public records — that could track individuals' movement and location. "We do purchase commercially available information that's consistent with the Constitution and the laws under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and it has led to some valuable intelligence for us," he said.

That's right: if they want to tap your comms and find out what you had for breakfast using their own tech and personnel, they need a warrant. But if they buy your information from a data broker? Nah. That's just capitalism, baby! What could go wrong with a standup dude like U.S. Olympic hockey team bestie Kash Patel having access to the deets of anyone who never bothered to read an End User License Agreement? Should be fine.

I mean, it can't be any worse than what the Department of Homeland Security is doing with smartphone cameras, facial recognition software, and license plate readers, right?

This feels like a great time to remind y'all that the Electronic Frontier Foundation is in the trenches fighting for you with a bloody nose, shovel, and a smile. If you've got a few bucks to spare, consider sending them a donation.

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[1] Url: https://boingboing.net/2026/03/23/kash-patel-confirms-fbi-buys-your-data-instead-of-getting-a-warrant.html

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