This Man Bought Phone Location Data from Around the World
Summary
Host Joe Bates interviews Mike Yeagley, a former government contractor who pioneered the use of commercial location data for intelligence. They discuss how agencies bought bulk data to track targets in Syria and the national security risks posed by apps like Grindr. Yeagley argues that current privacy tools are insufficient, urging engineered solutions to stop telemetry extraction at the device level.
Topics discussed
Intro and sponsorship messages
Introduction to Mike Yeagley and location data
Origins of buying location data for intelligence
Case study: Tracking soldiers in Syria via cement factory
Government oversight and ISIS tracking applications
Grindr data risks and Chinese government ties
Device telemetry and the limits of privacy toggles
How apps bypass GPS permissions using AI and telemetry
Military personnel tracking and legislative responses
The role of Apple, Google, and engineered privacy solutions
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