US government repurposes public service data for surveillance, sparking privacy concerns.

The US government is repurposing personal data from public services for surveillance and law enforcement, according to a researcher. Data meant for healthcare, taxes, and more is now shared among agencies and private firms, often without public scrutiny. This shift is fueled by interagency agreements and private partnerships, using technology to detect potential threats and flag individuals, which can lead to job losses and wrongful targeting.