American company Premise Data Corp. accused of collecting data on users for the military. It is reported to the Wall Street Journal newspaper.
Using the User Program receive payment for the collection of open information: for example, photography or reporting. At the same time, in order to take over the task, performers need to share their data.
WSJ found out that Premise also cooperates with the US Armed Forces and the governments of other countries. However, representatives of the company argue that about half of its customers are private firms that need commercial information.
At the same time, since 2017, the company received at least 5 million dollars for projects that were somehow related to the military. Moreover, in 2019, PREMISE representatives offered their help to the American contingent in Afghanistan: for example, to apply some objects or control the cellular tagging signals using the program. The WSJ source claims that Premise users do not know who enjoys their information: the company Casual mentions that among customers there are the authorities of the country.
According to Mauri Blackman’s chief executive officer, Premise does not make anything illegal. He believes that data collection for the military does not harm users. “All this information is available to any owner of a mobile phone. This is not something unique and not something secret. (…) And if the data that Premise provides, help the state to form their policies and protect the Americans, we are only happy”, – said Blackman.