Law Enforcement Agencies Used Surveillance Tool to Track 500 Million Devices
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TORONTO (AP) — Law enforcement agencies in the United States, Hungary, and El Salvador utilized a surveillance tool known as Webloc to monitor the movements and behaviors of up to 500 million devices globally, a report released on Sunday by Citizen Lab revealed. The investigation highlights the extensive use of advertising data sources to conduct large-scale surveillance without adequate oversight or warrants.
Citizen Lab, a research group at the University of Toronto, detailed how the tool, developed by Cobwebs Technologies, aggregates data from various advertising networks to track device locations and user identities. The report indicates that the surveillance operations spanned multiple continents, with server infrastructure located in the U.S., Netherlands, Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, and the U.K.
The findings emerged on April 13, 2026, raising immediate concerns among privacy advocates and legal experts regarding the scope of government surveillance capabilities. The report states that the tool enabled authorities to monitor device movements, behavior, and identities by leveraging data typically used for targeted advertising. This method allowed for the tracking of individuals across different digital platforms without the traditional legal requirements associated with wiretaps or physical surveillance.
Law enforcement agencies in the three named countries were identified as primary users of the Webloc system. The report does not specify the exact nature of the investigations conducted using the tool, but it notes that the scale of data collection suggests broad application across various criminal and security operations. The use of advertising data for surveillance purposes has drawn criticism for bypassing standard judicial oversight mechanisms.
Privacy advocates argue that the practice represents a significant expansion of state surveillance powers, potentially infringing on civil liberties. The report emphasizes that the data collection occurred without warrants in many instances, challenging existing legal frameworks designed to protect individual privacy rights. The global nature of the server infrastructure complicates jurisdictional oversight, as data flows across multiple international boundaries.
Cobwebs Technologies has not publicly commented on the allegations. The company's role in providing the surveillance tool to government agencies remains a central point of contention. Legal experts are calling for an immediate review of the surveillance practices to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.
The revelation has sparked calls for legislative action to regulate the use of commercial data for law enforcement purposes. Governments in the affected countries have not yet issued official statements regarding the findings. The report leaves open questions about the extent of the surveillance, the specific cases in which the tool was deployed, and the potential for similar tools to be used by other agencies worldwide.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the balance between national security needs and individual privacy rights. The case underscores the growing challenges posed by digital surveillance technologies in an increasingly connected world. Further details on the specific operations and the legal implications are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.