Joseph Cox - How You Can Buy AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint Real-Time Location Data
Exposes the underground market for US carrier real-time location data, demonstrating purchase of precise GPS location for any phone number.
Summary
Carrier Location Data Market
Joseph Cox (journalist, Motherboard/VICE) presents investigative findings on the commercial market for US carrier real-time location data, demonstrating that any person's precise real-time GPS location can be purchased for approximately $300.
Location Data Supply Chain
US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon) sell aggregated location data to 'location aggregators' (Zumigo, LocationSmart, Babel Street) for legitimate uses (fraud detection, roadside assistance). These aggregators resell access to hundreds of downstream 'location intelligence' companies.
High-Risk Access Points
Bail bond companies and private investigators access location data through specialized 'skip tracing' services that provide real-time phone location without a court order. Cox demonstrates purchasing the real-time location of a specific person's phone with consent, revealing precise coordinates accurate to within 100 meters.
Policy Response
Following Cox's reporting (published in Motherboard), all four major US carriers announced they would cease selling location data to aggregators. The FCC ultimately issued $200M+ in fines for unauthorized location data sharing.
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