Citizen Lab: Law Enforcement Used Webloc to Track 500 Million Devices via Ad Data

SITREP: Hungarian domestic intelligence, El Salvador's national police, and various U.S. law enforcement agencies have utilized the Webloc system to track approximately 500 million devices through advertising data. This surveillance tool, originally developed by Cobwebs Technologies, is now marketed by Penlink following their merger in July 2023. TACTICAL ASSESSMENT: The deployment of Webloc by multiple national and local law enforcement agencies indicates a growing trend in the use of commercial surveillance technologies for policing. This raises significant concerns regarding privacy rights and the potential for misuse of such data in various jurisdictions. PROJECTED VECTORS: Increased scrutiny and potential regulatory responses regarding the use of commercial surveillance tools by law enforcement agencies may follow.