Ethical Hacking News
A new platform launched on Tuesday to protect public servants from an angry mob, offering free and discounted privacy and security services to America’s 23 million current and former public servants. The initiative is supported by the Public Service Alliance (PSA), a nonprofit group that formed last summer following an unprecedented rise in threats against government workers across the United States.
The US has seen an alarming rise in threats against public servants, with nearly half of state legislators and one in five local officials reporting being threatened. 9,474 threats against members of Congress were investigated by the US Capitol Police last year, a second straight annual increase. Data broker abuse is a key factor in these threats, using personal information to target advertising, law enforcement surveillance, and immigration control. Data breaches have exposed politicians' movements and highlighted the risks of data broker abuse, with many evading transparency laws. A recent investigation found that at least 35 data brokers are hiding their opt-out pages from Google search results, making it harder for people to delete their personal data.
In recent years, the United States has witnessed an unprecedented rise in threats against public servants, including lawmakers, law enforcement officers, and other government officials. This crisis has reached alarming proportions, with nearly half of state legislators and one in five local officials reporting being threatened. The Brennan Center for Justice, a public policy nonprofit, has underscored the widespread nature of these threats and their impact on democratic participation.
According to the US Capitol Police, 9,474 threats against members of Congress and those close to them were investigated last year, marking a second straight annual increase and more than doubling 2017's total. These threats not only endanger people but also warp democratic participation by deterring candidates from running for office and silencing officials on controversial issues.
The use of data brokers has been identified as a key factor in these threats. Data brokers are companies that collect, package, and sell personal information, often without the knowledge or consent of the individuals involved. This data is used to target advertising, law enforcement surveillance, and immigration control, among other purposes. The risks associated with data broker abuse are not abstract; people-search websites have long been used by abusers to track and harass victims.
Data breaches have exposed the movements of politicians and military personnel, highlighting the risks of data broker abuse. Even when opting out is possible, it is a burdensome and piecemeal process that requires repeatedly chasing down companies as information is re-collected and relisted. The Trump administration's rollback of efforts to rein in data broker abuse has further exacerbated this issue.
In May 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau quietly withdrew a Biden-era rule that would have required data brokers to get people's consent before selling sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers or income details. This move has been criticized by privacy watchdogs, who report that hundreds of data brokers are evading state transparency laws, including failing to register in states where it is required.
A recent investigation by The Markup and CalMatters copublished by WIRED found at least 35 data brokers deliberately hiding their opt-out pages from Google search results, making it harder for people to find and use tools to delete their personal data. This practice has been likened to an illegal dark pattern, a barrier to thwarting users hoping to wrest control of their data from companies built on exploiting it.
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Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-National-Crisis-The-Threats-Against-Public-Servants-Exposed-ehn.shtml
https://www.wired.com/story/public-service-alliance-marketplace-privacy-threats/
Published: Tue Sep 9 06:49:39 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
