It’s a question that’s been buzzing in the minds of millions: are our devices quietly tracking us, even as we go about our daily lives? According to recent reports and expert warnings, the answer is a resounding yes—though not always in the ways we might expect. In a world where technology is both a tool and a window into our personal lives, new revelations about digital surveillance are causing widespread concern and spurring calls for urgent action.
On September 13, 2025, kienthuc.net.vn reported that Google has resumed the use of digital fingerprinting to track iPhone users, identifying their devices across all websites they visit—often without their knowledge or consent. Unlike traditional cookies, which users can clear or block, digital fingerprinting collects a slew of data points such as IP address, device type, operating system, timezone, and even device settings. These seemingly innocuous details are combined to create a unique identifier that follows users wherever they go online.
Google itself had previously sounded the alarm about the dangers of such techniques, warning that digital fingerprinting "overturns user choice and is wrong," because, as the company put it, "unlike cookies, users cannot delete their fingerprint and therefore cannot control how their information is collected." Yet, in a surprising about-face, Google has brought back digital fingerprinting in 2025, expanding its reach beyond browsers to encompass a vast ecosystem of smart devices—phones, TVs, gaming consoles, and more.
The browser, however, remains the nerve center of this tracking operation. As kienthuc.net.vn explains, it’s the place where people shop, work, relax, and research—the hub of modern digital life. "No one wants their internet history exposed," the report notes. Yet, with digital fingerprinting, every online action can potentially be recorded and analyzed, regardless of whether users take steps to protect their privacy, such as avoiding Google’s Chrome browser in favor of Apple’s Safari.
Fortunately for privacy-conscious users, Apple is fighting back. The latest version of its operating system, iOS 26, introduces a new setting in Safari called "Advanced Tracking Protection and Enhanced Fingerprinting." By default, this setting is now set to "Full Browsing," but users can switch it to "Private Browsing" to block much of this tracking. The feature works by feeding trackers a jumble of useless or fake data, making it much harder for anyone to single out an individual device from the crowd—even if it’s not completely foolproof. As the article notes, "this is important because while Safari blocks tracking cookies and gives users the option to refuse, digital fingerprinting is widespread and silent, making it impossible to opt out."
Still, there are limits. The new privacy feature applies only to Safari on iPhones running iOS 26. Other apps, platforms, and devices—from smart TVs to gaming consoles and computers—remain outside its protective reach. Users are encouraged to activate the blocking feature immediately in Safari’s advanced settings to regain at least some of the privacy lost to the new wave of tracking.
While tech giants and device manufacturers wrestle over digital privacy, a parallel—and equally troubling—debate is unfolding on the governmental front. On September 5, 2025, the American Community Media (ACoM) hosted a workshop in San Francisco focused on the Trump administration’s expansion of surveillance methods. As Người Việt reports, the administration’s efforts, initially justified as necessary for combating fraud, crime, and illegal immigration, have quietly morphed into a sprawling surveillance apparatus that now touches nearly every American.
Nicole Alvarez, a policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, told attendees that the government is creating an "electronic observatory," a surveillance system that is growing in both scope and secrecy. Two main tactics drive this expansion. First, sensitive personal information is shared across federal agencies—often without public knowledge. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has reportedly shared data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to facilitate deportations. Second, disparate data sets are being merged, sidestepping legal barriers and making it easier for authorities to track individuals across multiple domains.
Alvarez warned that these practices erode public trust, making people less likely to seek government services and undermining the effectiveness of public agencies. "Once an immigration surveillance system is expanded, the government can easily monitor many other groups, such as protesters, voters, journalists, and other Americans," she emphasized, according to Người Việt.
Emerald Tse, a law professor at Georgetown University, added that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has developed sophisticated systems to monitor immigrants, but these tools are now being used more broadly. ICE, for instance, collects personal information from utility companies, the DMV, and other sources. The federal government has also expanded its immigrant DNA databases, creating vast repositories accessible to law enforcement nationwide. "The increased surveillance puts all Americans at risk, not just immigrants," Tse argued, noting that the administration is targeting people regardless of their immigration status and using these tools to suppress free speech.
Sophia Cope, an attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, underscored just how far the surveillance net has spread. Systems originally designed to track immigrants—like DMV data, facial recognition, and phone tracking—are now being used on the general population, with little to no oversight. "These systems are now being used more widely, and that will lead the U.S. government to violate civil rights in many ways, such as political targeting, identity theft, and information leaks," Cope warned. She further cautioned that these surveillance programs are "almost entirely unsupervised," giving those in charge free rein to operate without accountability.
All three experts agreed on the urgent need for stronger legal protections, greater transparency, and strict limits on the use of surveillance technologies. Without these safeguards, they argued, privacy and democracy itself could be at risk. "Information originally used for national defense or immigration can be repurposed for a host of unknown objectives, increasing the danger to our democracy," Cope concluded.
As digital fingerprinting and government surveillance both expand, Americans are left facing a sobering reality: the battle for privacy is being fought on multiple fronts, with powerful interests on both sides. Whether through corporate tracking or government monitoring, the pressure on personal freedom is growing—and so is the demand for meaningful reform. For now, the best defense may be vigilance, education, and a willingness to demand better from both tech companies and public officials.