Attorney General Ellison releases consumer alert on DHS’ digital surveillance and how to protect your privacy
January 15, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Attorney General Ellison released the following consumer alert on how Minnesotans can protect their digital privacy from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents. Attorney General Ellison urges the people of Minnesota to take steps to protect themselves online from the federal government’s overreach and lawlessness.
ICE Is Using Surveillance Tools to Track People
There are media reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is utilizing advanced tools to identify and track people. Reports indicate the tools may utilize data originally collected from people’s online activity, phone apps, smart devices, and vehicles.
ICE appears to be accessing information collected by data brokers, among other sources. Data brokers collect massive amounts of data, create profiles about individuals, and sell this information. Even interacting with a weather app can lead to information being stored with a data broker. ICE’s use of such data presents many privacy concerns.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office reminds Minnesotans to take steps to protect your privacy and security. We caution that there is not one perfect solution but that taking small, deliberate steps is worthwhile.
Steps for Better Privacy
Each person must weigh their own risks and determine how to best manage their personal privacy and security. Here are some steps to take to better manage the privacy of your digital information:
Minimize Your Digital Footprint. Simple actions can dramatically reduce the amount of data that your devices collect and sell. Consider using privacy-focused browsers and search engines that prioritize user privacy and do not track your searches. You should also limit the amount of personal information you share online. Be mindful of websites you visit and the information you provide them.
Regularly Update Software. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to keep your phone up to date. It is important to install security updates to make it harder for spyware to be used against you. Enable automatic updates wherever possible.
Disable Location Services. You can minimize the number of parties who have access to your location data by disabling location services. Be mindful of apps that you choose to share your location with. Often apps that appear harmless (like games) are tracking and selling your data, including location information. Consider disabling location services entirely if you are at a protest or sensitive location.
Use Secure Communication Tools. To protect the content of your communications, use messaging applications that feature end-to-end encryption. This ensures that only the sender and intended recipient can read the contents of a message and protect private conversations from third-party interception.
Protect Access to Physical Device. To protect access to your phone or other devices, you should use a strong screen lock password. You should also disable biometric authentication such as FaceID or TouchID. You may also wish to disable the ability to take actions from a locked screen.
Airplane Mode. You can reduce the likelihood of being tracked through cellular activity by turning on Airplane Mode, which will disable cellular connections when possible. However, Airplane Mode does not prevent GPS signals from reaching your phone.
Review Privacy Settings. You should regularly check and adjust your privacy settings on your phone, apps, and social media accounts to control who can see your information and how it is used.
Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act
The Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act went into effect July 31, 2025, and applies to certain businesses that collect data about Minnesota residents. The Act grants consumers the right to delete their data, among other rights. Deleting data that is held by data brokers or businesses that you no longer interact with could make it harder for unwanted entities to get hold of your private information. You can learn more about the Act here: http://privacymn.com/
