Vast amounts of personal data from Americans has been bought by the U.S. government and create significant threats to privacy.

• The data is commercially available and over time has replicated the results of intrusive surveillance techniques once used on a more targeted and limited basis.

The information can now “cause harm to an individual’s reputation, emotional well-being, or physical safety,” according to the report.

• Vendors who collect and sell the personal information claim the data is “anonymized” — but experts say in most cases a name can be inferred.

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