【2006 Archives】

Source：Evergreen Information Network Editor：Science Time：2025-06-26 21:07:44

Your smartphone006 Archiveslikely being tracked by a tool called Locate X. Law enforcement and other U.S. state agencies use it. And they don't need a warrant to track you either.

This may or may not exactly be news to you. Locate X, created by a data surveillance company called Babel Street, previously received coverage in 2020. At the time, numerous reports uncovereda Secret Service document concerning the agency's contract with the company for usage of the tool.

SEE ALSO: Meta suspends celebrity plane tracking accounts like ElonJet

However, 404 Mediahas a new look at the tool which includes a trial run of the program in action – and it's concerning to say the least.

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The tool that can track your abortion clinic visit

In the trial, according to 404 Media, Locate X was able to focus on an individual cell phone which is displayed as a red dot in the tool.

The tool tracked the cell phone from an apparent residence in Alabama to a Lowe's store, then along the highway to a church, and then eventually to an abortion clinic in Florida. The red dot stayed at the abortion clinic for two hours before heading back to the apparent residence. The tool tracked the phone to the clinic just one single time.

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Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, Alabama has outright banned abortion in most cases. Republican-run states that have outlawed abortion, including Alabama, have sought out further criminalization for those seeking abortions out-of-state in places like Florida where it's heavily restricted but still legal up to a certain point.

The cell phone tracking history provided above was all obtained without a warrant. It's worth noting that the tool alone cannot identify a user connected to the phone, but law enforcement could certainly use additional tools at agencies' disposals to identify a user.

In addition, the usage of Locate X for 404 Media's piece wasn't provided by law enforcement or a state agency. The trial was accessed directly through Babel Street by data removal company Atlas Privacy. The company, which is currently suing data brokers that enable tools like Locate X, was able to obtain a trial by simply saying it was a private investigation agency. No restrictions were placed on the trial.

【2006 Archives】

The tool that can track your abortion clinic visit

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