Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General.
But he is still causing havoc for the Washington, D.C. establishment.
And Matt Gaetz just highlighted one terrifying problem putting American troops at risk.
Private data being sold
Donald Trump is quickly moving to assemble his second administration.
One position that has caused much debate is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair.
Current FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan, who was appointed by Joe Biden, is in line to be replaced by Trump.
Khan has drawn criticism on both sides of the aisle for aggressively blocking mergers and acquisitions.
However, she has also garnered support for both sides.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has praised her in the past, and Matt Gaetz just commended her for stopping data brokers from selling Americans’ exact locations.
The FTC released a report that stated it “will prohibit data broker Mobilewalla, Inc. from selling sensitive location data, including data that reveals the identity of an individual’s private home, to settle allegations the data broker sold such information without taking reasonable steps to verify consumers’ consent. Under the FTC’s proposed settlement order, Mobilewalla will also be banned from collecting consumer data from online advertising auctions for purposes other than participating in those auctions, marking the first time the agency has alleged such a practice was an unfair act or practice.”
People could be tracked to sensitive locations such as churches.
That is terrifying censorship data that can be collected by anyone, including government cutouts.
Khan commented, “Persistent tracking by data brokers can put millions of Americans at risk, exposing the precise locations where service members are stationed or which medical treatments someone is seeking. . .Mobilewalla exploited vulnerabilities in digital ad markets to harvest this data at a stunning scale. The FTC is cracking down on firms that unlawfully exploit people’s sensitive location data and ensuring that we protect Americans from unchecked surveillance.”
Gaetz angered by surveillance
Gaetz wrote in response to the report, “This is some CRAZY stuff. Data Brokers will sell your exact locations. Thank you Chair Khan for fighting back.”
This is some CRAZY stuff.
Data Brokers will sell your exact locations.
Thank you Chair Khan for fighting back. https://t.co/Z8vFeSQUQv
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 4, 2024
Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, declared, “Mobilewalla collected massive amounts of sensitive consumer data – including visits to health clinics and places of worship – and sold this data in a way that exposed consumers to harm. . .The FTC is acting today to stop these invasive practices and protect the public from always-on surveillance.”
Mass surveillance is a serious issue.
It has become an even bigger problem now that the surveillance can be outsourced to companies affiliated with alphabet agencies.
Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter exposed just how much government agencies like the FBI were working hand in hand with Big Tech companies.
The federal government, particularly on Joe Biden’s watch, put pressure on private companies to do its bidding.
Trump will likely appoint an FTC chair who is more pro-business, but American privacy and free speech need to be protected.
Trump knows firsthand just how damaging government surveillance and censorship can be.
Stay tuned to Unmuzzled News for any updates to this ongoing story.
