Data/Info Question

I just finished Persepolis Rising (first time reader), and there is something I kept asking myself but never got the answer: how did Laconia know so much about the rest of humanity?

From my understanding, as soon as Duarte & crew traversed the Laconia gate they put up the message about the gate being closed and drowned out any signal data coming into the gate. Logically, this would also prevent them from receiving any information through the Laconia gate. But they seem to know an awful lot about the Transport Union, EMC, Medina Station, etc. for not being able to receive any data for >30 years. The transport union was not even a thought when they traversed the gate.

Did I miss something explaining this, or is my assumption incorrect? Obviously I have not read beyond Persepolis Rising, so please mark spoilers for anything beyond that.