#USA #NYC #MassSurveillance #GeoFencing #Patternz: "The company behind a global phone spy tool that is advertised as a capability for national security agencies also pitched the product as a solution for “riot detection.” Internal documents obtained by 404 Media specifically included heatmaps of New York City in the context of this capability.

The documents provide more insight into what Patternz, the name of the tool and associated company, could be used for. There is no indication that New York or U.S. federal authorities have purchased or even received a demo of the tool, with the documents instead potentially being more aspirational. But they still show one of the use cases Patternz was at least envisioned for, and which could apply to other similar technologies using ad data as a mass surveillance tool.

In one slide included in a slide deck presentation under the section “Use Cases,” Patternz is presented as a “riot detection” system. It then shows three different heat maps. All of them show areas of New York City, and especially Manhattan and Brooklyn. Large areas of the city are covered in blue, green, yellow, and red, appearing to indicate an increasing density of phones in certain areas. The slide says Patternz includes both historical and real time data."

https://www.404media.co/patternz-phone-spy-tool-pitched-for-riot-detection-in-nyc/

Inside a Global Phone Spy Tool Monitoring Billions

#Patternz uses data collected by ads - which are displayed in popular apps - to gather data on billions of people. Apparently, the data has been sold to national #security agencies. @404mediaco

Should you block ads by default? You tell me.

#privacy #privacymatters

https://www.404media.co/inside-global-phone-spy-tool-patternz-nuviad-real-time-bidding/

Inside a Global Phone #Spy Tool #Monitoring Billions

A wide-spanning investigation by 404 Media reveals more details about a secretive spy tool that can tracks billions of phone profiles through the #advertising industry called #Patternz.
#privacy #surveillance

https://www.404media.co/inside-global-phone-spy-tool-patternz-nuviad-real-time-bidding/

#Patternz and #Nuviad enable potentially hostile governments to track individuals by misusing ad bidding.

In theory, the pair are separate firms, but in practice they appear joined at the hip.

Tens of thousands of phone apps are unwittingly playing a part. National security agencies around the world can precisely target a person of interest, track their movements, watch their proximity to others and even push #malware to their devices.

The CEO of both is Rafi Ton (pictured). In #SBBlogwatch, we unpick the supposedly sordid story. At @TechstrongGroup’s @SecurityBlvd: https://securityboulevard.com/2024/01/patternz-nuviad-adtech-spies-richixbw/?utm_source=richisoc&utm_medium=social&utm_content=richisoc&utm_campaign=richisoc

From 404media:
Inside a Global Phone Spy Tool Monitoring Billions
https://www.404media.co/inside-global-phone-spy-tool-patternz-nuviad-real-time-bidding/

A wide-spanning investigation by 404 Media reveals more details about a secretive spy tool that can tracks billions of phone profiles through the advertising industry called #Patternz . Google has taken action in response to 404 Media's inquiries.
#surveillance #privacy

Inside a Global Phone Spy Tool Monitoring Billions

A wide-spanning investigation by 404 Media reveals more details about a secretive spy tool that can tracks billions of phone profiles through the advertising industry called #Patternz. Google has taken action in response to 404 Media's inquiries.

#Privacy #Security #Cybersecurity

https://www.404media.co/inside-global-phone-spy-tool-patternz-nuviad-real-time-bidding/

#Spionagetool aufgedeckt: #Patternz sammelt Daten von Milliarden von Menschen

"Das Tool greift wohl auf sogenannte RTB-Daten zurück, die Angreifern teils hochsensible Informationen liefern – auch über EU-Entscheidungsträger."
https://www.golem.de/news/spionagetool-aufgedeckt-patternz-sammelt-daten-von-milliarden-von-menschen-2311-179573.html