Webloc: Analysis of Penlink's Ad-Based Geolocation Surveillance Tech

Citizen Lab has published research analyzing Webloc, a geolocation surveillance system developed by Cobwebs Technologies and sold by Penlink, which monitors hundreds of millions of people using data from consumer apps and digital advertising. The investigation documents use by Hungarian intelligence (since 2022), US ICE, military, DHS, and police departments across major US cities. The report also identifies corporate links between Cobwebs and spyware vendor Quadream, and analyzes related products including Tangles and Trapdoor.