Sale of U.S. Military Personnel's Personal Data Exposes Alarming Vulnerability

A study conducted by Duke University reveals that personal information of active-duty U.S. service members is readily available for purchase from data brokers, including names, phone numbers, addresses, and even details about their children, marital status, net worth, and credit rating. The study found that this information can be bought for as little as 12 cents per person, raising concerns about national security risks. Senators have called for action to address this issue, emphasizing the need to protect those who defend the nation. The study also highlights the lack of regulation in the data brokerage sector, with over 500 websites advertising information on service members. The availability of such data poses a threat as it can be used by foreign spies to identify individuals with access to state secrets.