[Anonyneko]

This is just par for the course in Russia. Government has telcos track people, and that data ends up available on the black market for anyone to purchase, for a fairly modest fee. The government has been recently trying (with uncertain degree of success) to crack down on the latter, as this was frequently used by the opposition journalists and investigators to uncover the details of the government's own nefarious plots.

The data is cross-referenced with other telcos, other SIM cards, Wi-Fi hotspots (anonymous public hotspots are outlawed), street cams, and many other databases, so it's basically impossible to avoid being tracked.

Probably inevitable to become the norm everywhere in the world.

[aa-jv]

It is par for the course in the UK and Israel, too. Oh, also Australia.

[betaby]

> Government has telcos track people

Yes

> and that data ends up available on the black market for anyone to purchase, for a fairly modest fee

Probably not. Those DBs are fake most ( all ? ) the time.

[Anonyneko]

The Russian leaked ones have proven to be legit many times over by investigative journalists cross-referencing those with other databases (e.g. flight tracking or leaked food delivery databases).

[kikimora]

In Russia case no, they are not fake. Navalny tracked his killers by analyzing flight and train travel data identifying people who always travel with him. They used data sold in the black market.

[bell-cot]

> ... as this was frequently used by the opposition journalists and investigators to uncover the details ...

Seems like Ukrainians assassins targeting Russian VIP's would be the most compelling motive for a crackdown.

Or perhaps Mr. Putin provides a feed of "currently in favor" VIP's to the black market folks, who know better than to sell intel on anyone on that list?

[Anonyneko]

Yeah, that of course is a bigger concern for the government right now. I sometimes forget that it's neither 2019 nor even 2021 anymore.

[jbxntuehineoh]

time to take the tedpill and leave your phone at home

[znort_]

> This is just par for the course in Russia

nice deflection there, ofc bad russia! you did surely notice that this article is about the uk? oh, and (big surprise!) israeli cell and surveillance companies ...

[Anonyneko]

All I wanted to say is that things can get even worse if left uncontrolled.

[znort_]

it's ok, the occasion offered an interesting glimpse on the crowd in here.

btw, that was another deflection right there, just saying ;-)

worse how? are you aware of the real sorry state of privacy, freedom of information and civil rights all around the globe today, and very specially in our shiny western democracies? that's getting considerably worse, i recommend you pay a bit more close attention instead of chasing tired clichés and ghosts abroad.