CBP Workers Allegedly Used Government Databases to Spy on Exes, Crushes, and Colleagues
Aug 13, 2026 5:30 AM
Records obtained by WIRED detail hundreds of allegations of Customs and Border Protection workers misusing internal tools to look up romantic interests and track colleagues’ cell phones.
Photo-Illustration: Jobanny Cabrera; Getty Images
Internal records obtained by WIRED reveal how, for years, United States Customs and Border Protection employees and contractors were accused of abusing sensitive government databases for reasons that had nothing to do with their jobs. The records contain hundreds of allegations of misuse of law enforcement databases, including federal agents querying data to look up romantic interests, monitor family members, expose various personal information and, in some cases, provide intelligence to suspected smugglers or drug-trafficking organizations.
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Reporting from WIRED contributed to this story.
