How the government spies on you

July 24, 2024

By Kim Komando

When I shared my tip on opting out of the Transportation Security Administration’s new facial recognition tech at airports the other week, I got a ton of questions. First and foremost, though, a lot of you said, “I didn’t know I could do that.”

You can and you should (steps below). But your face isn’t the only data metric the government collects about you. Here are a few things we know they know.

What you look like and where you are

Many other places use facial recognition, like grocery stores, banks, sports and concert venues. I’m pretty sure you’ve gone to at least one of those in the past year.

Government AI tools add pictures you’ve shared on social media to a facial-recognition database that’s then paired with CCTV cameras everywhere. This tech can pinpoint your location, associations and activities with creepy precision.

Who you’re talking to (and what you’re saying) 

After 9/11, Congress enabled warrantless monitoring of foreign communications. The National Security Agency (NSA) exploits a loophole to conduct mass surveillance of Americans, too.

They copy some info directly from fiber-optic cables (crazy, right?) and get other stuff from companies like Google. They also have access to real-time internet activity with a “secret” program called XKeyscore.

What you’re posting and who you’re following 

The government monitors Facebook, X, Instagram and all the rest. Even if your account is private, the government can ask companies for access. Remember, friend: What you post on social media is out there forever.

What you’re buying and browsing 

Data brokers buy info from your internet service provider, Big Tech companies and even smart appliance manufacturers. Then, they package it up and sell it to advertisers — and the U.S. government. This is another reason to get your personal information out of all these invasive databases.

Block prying spies

Opt out at the airport

Stand away from the camera, present your ID, and say something like, “I opt out of biometrics. I want the standard verification process.” Use the Mobile Passport Control app to skip the face scan kiosk lines coming back into the U.S. (iOS, Android).

VPN-visible browsing

A virtual private network encrypts your online activity so no one can see what you’re doing (including your ISP). My pick is ExpressVPN.*

Encrypt it real good

End-to-end encryption ensures only you and your recipient can see your messages.

• Android: Go to Settings > Security > Encryption > Screen lock and select PIN. Enter a PIN and open the encryption screen by going to Settings > Security > Encryption > Encrypt phone or Encrypt tablet.
• iPhone: Confirm encryption is enabled by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and looking for Data protection is enabled at the bottom of the screen.

Privacy, please

Your phone, browsers and apps can toggle off most tracking. Start with my 30-second privacy check for Google and Facebook.

Go to the source

Data brokers have to remove your info if you go through their online processes to do it. Warning: They make you jump through hoops and give you dead-end links. I use Incogni for this.* Life’s too short.

Share this with someone who may not know how much they’re putting out there. Let’s protect our data together.

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