Phone location data of top EU officials for sale: What happened?
A new investigation has revealed that phone location data of top EU officials for sale was easily accessible through commercial data brokers. Reporters found that more than 278 million location data points—collected from ordinary mobile apps—could be purchased with little oversight. This discovery raises urgent questions about privacy, cybersecurity, and Europe’s ability to enforce its strong data protection laws, including the GDPR.
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How was the phone location data of top EU officials for sale obtained?
Journalists were able to acquire the dataset through a free sample from a data broker. The information included detailed movements of EU employees, with 2,000 location markers from 264 officials and 5,800 markers from over 750 devices inside the European Parliament. Despite GDPR protections, weak enforcement has allowed the data-brokering industry to grow into a multi-billion-dollar market.
Why is phone location data of top EU officials for sale a major threat?
The report highlights how sensitive location histories can expose security operations, government movements, and intelligence patterns. Because brokers sell this data to private buyers—including militaries and governments—experts warn that even high-ranking EU officials are vulnerable to tracking, espionage, and targeted attacks. EU leaders have reportedly issued internal guidance to reduce tracking risks.
Can EU officials stop phone location data of top EU officials for sale?
Although Europe has some of the world’s strongest privacy rules under GDPR, enforcement remains slow. Regulators have yet to impose serious restrictions on data brokers. Meanwhile, everyday apps continue to upload user location data without transparent consent. Apple and Android users can reduce tracking by blocking location access or deleting high-risk apps, but experts say stronger policy action is urgently needed.
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