Kash Patel Admits the FBI is Buying Private Data on Americans
During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged that the agency purchases commercially available data — including Americans’ location information — from third‑party brokers. Senator Ron Wyden criticized the practice as a loophole around Fourth Amendment protections, warning that pairing such data with AI tools could enable expansive surveillance. Patel maintained the purchases comply with existing laws, even as Wyden argued that outdated regulations allow sensitive personal data to be collected without warrants. The exchange highlights growing concerns about government access to private data and the need for updated surveillance reform.