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Under Surveillance. How Location Data Jeopardizes German Security
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Our smartphones know a lot about us. Such as our location.
Such information allows navigation apps to get us where we want to go right down to the last meter, while weather apps tell us when to expect rain and dating apps show us people nearby.
But numerous app providers sell our location data onward.
This investigation by public broadcaster Bayerische Rundfunk (BR) and netzpolitik.org shows why this data is dangerous for high-ranking public officials, members of the military and even for intelligence agents.
Such information allows navigation apps to get us where we want to go right down to the last meter, while weather apps tell us when to expect rain and dating apps show us people nearby.
But numerous app providers sell our location data onward.
This investigation by public broadcaster Bayerische Rundfunk (BR) and netzpolitik.org shows why this data is dangerous for high-ranking public officials, members of the military and even for intelligence agents.
Further Credits:
- Digital Design: Max Brandl, Marco Lettner
- Editors: Eva Achinger, Robert Schöffel
- Translation: Charles Hawley
- Team Lead: Verena Nierle
Further Publications:
- tagesschau.de: Das gefährliche Geschäft mit den Standortdaten (German)
- tagesschau-Podcast 11km: Investigativ-Recherche: Wie Handy-Daten zum nationalen Sicherheitsrisiko werden (German)
- BR-Podcast “Der Funkstreifzug”: Handel mit Standortdaten: Gefahr für die Innere Sicherheit (German)
- report München: Sendung am 16.7.2024 um 21:45 Uhr im Ersten oder in der ARD-Mediathek (German)
- BR24: Standortdaten: Spionagerisiko für Militär und Geheimdienste (German)
- netzpolitik.org: Die große Datenhändler-Recherche im Überblick (German)
- netzpolitik.org: Firma verschenkt 3,6 Milliarden Standorte von Menschen in Deutschland (German)
- netzpolitik.org: Jetzt testen: Wurde mein Handy-Standort verkauft? (German)
- netzpolitik.org: How data brokers turn our privacy into money and jeopardise national security (English)
- tagesschau: https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/br-recherche/standortdaten-apps-datenhandel-100.html
- SRF: https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/tinder-candy-crush-wetterapp-spion-in-der-hosentasche-tausende-apps-verraten-unseren-standort
- SRF: https://www.srf.ch/news/wirtschaft/flightradar-wetterapps-co-verraeterische-apps-die-spur-der-datenhaendler
- Le Monde: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2025/01/16/these-apps-are-tracking-users-location-without-their-knowledge_6737090_13.html
- Le Monde: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2025/02/12/personal-data-for-sale-the-out-of-control-industry-of-data-brokers_6738090_13.html
- Dagens Nyheter: https://www.dn.se/sverige/tiotusentals-appar-lacker-data-om-sina-anvandare/
- Wired: https://www.wired.com/story/rtb-location-data-us-military/
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