Internal DHS Memo Shows CBP Used Online Ad Data to Track People’s Movements
Mar 3rd 2026
An internal DHS document reviewed by 404 Media shows CBP purchased location and advertising data drawn from everyday apps to track individuals over time, a practice that mirrors recent ICE buys and has prompted new calls for oversight.
- A DHS document obtained by 404 Media shows Customs and Border Protection bought data from the online advertising ecosystem to monitor precise movements over time.
- The data often came from ordinary apps, including video games, dating services, and fitness trackers.
- Ad tech ties device signals and user profiles together, enabling longitudinal location tracking across apps and sites.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement has acquired similar tools and sought more ad tech data, prompting about 70 lawmakers to ask DHS oversight for a new investigation.
- Privacy advocates such as Johnny Ryan of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties say the data is a goldmine for tracking where people go and what they read, watch, and listen to.