The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case concerning the constitutionality of geofence warrants, which gather location data of cellphone users near crime scenes. This case stems from a 2019 bank robbery in Virginia where police used a geofence warrant served on Google to find the perpetrator. While a lower court initially found the warrant to violate privacy rights, it upheld the conviction. The case, which has seen conflicting rulings in federal appeals courts, is expected to be argued later this year and could significantly impact how law enforcement uses this investigative technique.
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GM’s recent agreement to a five-year ban on selling drivers’ location data has sparked a firestorm of criticism and concern. The initial reaction, focusing on the temporary nature of the ban, highlights a deep distrust of the company’s intentions. Many see a five-year moratorium as simply a delay, allowing GM to continue this practice after the public outcry subsides. The implication is that, after this period, the company may again monetize this sensitive information, leading to potential exploitation and privacy violations.
The anger stems partly from the perceived shady practices of selling private customer data to insurance companies, resulting in increased premiums or even insurance denials.… Continue reading
This article details the expansive geographical coverage of zip code data, encompassing all 50 US states, Washington D.C., several US territories (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and numerous US military installations worldwide. Furthermore, the dataset extends to include Canadian provinces and territories. The provided zip code information allows for precise geographic location identification across this extensive region. This comprehensive coverage is key to various applications requiring accurate location-based data. The data ultimately serves as a powerful tool for geographic analysis and targeting.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood