Surveillance
San Francisco Police Can Now Have Live Access to Nearly Any Camera in the City
A new ordinance passed by the city's Board of Supervisors allows police to request live access to private security cameras even for misdemeanor violations.
New Gun Store Tracking Code Deputizes Private Firms To Do Government's Bidding
Politicians bypass hard legislative work and constitutional protections to target activities they don’t like.
The Federal Trade Commission vs. the Internet
Data collection is not the same as surveillance.
Artificial Intelligence Helps French Tax Authorities Find Thousands of Untaxed Swimming Pools
When taxing authorities get more resources and power, they will find ways to make everyone pay more.
Sen. Rand Paul Proposes Dumping Entire Espionage Act
The law has been abused to prosecute citizens for reasons other than spying. But there are better examples than Trump to highlight problems.
Concerned About Abortion Surveillance and Law Enforcement? Time To Treat Encryption Seriously
A mother-daughter arrest in Nebraska was fueled in part by unencrypted Facebook messages police accessed through a warrant.
Pennsylvania Poaching Police Warrantlessly Installed Camera on Private Land To Surveil Hunting Club
Evidence turned over in a lawsuit shows that wildlife officers set up a trail camera at a private club to surveil hunters who may be breaking state laws.
Police Can Access Your Ring Camera Footage Without a Warrant
After Amazon admitted it gives Ring footage to police departments upon "emergency" request, San Francisco Mayor London Breed wants cops to be able to access any camera at any time.
Homeland Security Is Buying Its Way Around the Fourth Amendment
Plus: The Respect for Marriage Act, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and more...
Government Databases Invite Privacy Abuse in China and the U.S.
The surveillance state’s appetite for sensitive information is dangerous under any flag.
Border Patrol Launched a Surveillance Blimp Over Nogales, Arizona. Town Officials Didn't Know.
Residents of Nogales are now under the gaze of a round-the-clock surveillance craft.
Should Women Delete Their Period Tracker Apps in the Wake of Dobbs?
Grappling with surveillance implications of Roe being overturned
ICE Operates a Sweeping 'Dragnet Surveillance System,' New Report Finds
ICE has spent $2.8 billion since 2008 developing surveillance and facial-recognition capabilities, mostly in secrecy and without real oversight.
Ending Roe Threatens More Than Abortion Rights
Plus: Lawsuit against Twitter can move forward, antitrust bills targeting Big Tech falter, and more...
The FBI Secretly Searched Americans' Digital Communications 3.4 Million Times Last Year
Plus: A questionable algorithm can sic state social workers on families, governments aren't the only entities that can expand contraceptive access, and more...
Houston Says Businesses Must Install Surveillance Cameras and Cops Can View Footage Without a Warrant
Plus: The Warrant for Metadata Act, DOJ will appeal order ending mask mandate, and more...
Europe Targets Self-Hosted Bitcoin Wallets—and Financial Privacy
Proposed EU rules would be equivalent to tracking all cash transactions
Postal Inspectors Have Been Illegally Spying on Americans
The Post Office's inspector general uncovers unrestricted online snooping by postal cops without any legal authority.
'Geofence Warrant' for All Cell Location Data From Area Near Robbery Is Ruled Unconstitutional
Plus: New rules on sex discrimination in education, economists warn of housing market exuberance, and more...
Pandemic Policy Turned Schools Into Surveillance States
Cameras and tracking technology purchased to battle COVID-19 will be a lingering affliction.
Biden Has His Eye on Bitcoin
The president's anticipated executive order stopped short of feared regulations but suggests federal unease with uncontrolled development.
Teacher Spying Is Instilling Surveillance Culture Into Students
“We totally stalked what they were doing on Google,” one teacher said.
NYC Mayor Adams Wants More Facial Recognition Software for Cops
Facial recognition software can secretly surveil and is subject to error.
New Report Highlights an Old Problem—the CIA Is Still Snooping on Americans
In a program separate from the ones disclosed by Edward Snowden, we see more mass secret domestic data collection.
Dear Olympics Media: Please Spare Us Your Fawning Over China's Digital Surveillance
Regarding the authoritarian country's central bank digital currency, you do not, under any circumstances, “gotta hand it to them.”
When Humanitarianism Prolongs the Inhumane
"A future of bloodless global discipline is a chilling thing."
Facebook Is a Snitch
Social media accounts are windows into your activities, and the cops are watching.
She Survived China's Attempt to Erase Her
“We have been through horrific things, but I’m still proud of being Uyghur," says Tursunay Ziyawudun, a survivor of China's torture camps.
Attract Government Attention and Get Your Name Run Through a 'Terrorist' Database
Offending the powerful can be dangerous in an increasingly authoritarian world.
Don't Worship an FBI That Took the Steele Dossier Seriously
Why trust an agency that conceals information from judges but prosecutes us for lying to it?
Can the Government Hide Its Misdeeds as 'State Secrets'?
A surveillance case will determine whether officials can be sued for "national security" rights violations.
Justice Department Charges a Steele Dossier Source With Lying to the FBI
The investigation of Trump aide Carter Page has exposed major problems with federal secret surveillance warrants.
Facebook Is Shuttering Its Face Recognition System
Privacy advocates applaud the move.
Supreme Court Rebuffs Attempt To Open Up Access to Classified FISA Court Reports
Do Americans have a right to know the extent that the government surveils them?
Your Cell Phone Is Spying on You
An FBI document reminds us: Your cell phone provider knows where you've been—and will tell the feds.
Whistleblower Absurdly Attacks Facebook's Privacy-Protecting Encryption Efforts
When "protecting users' safety" actually means the opposite
Dems Try To Pass Off $10,000 IRS Reporting Threshold as Merely Going After the 1 Percent
Proposed IRS surveillance now limited to non-wage net annual transactions of $10,000 and above. Which is still ridiculously low and intrusive.
Dems Want to Soak the Rich by Snooping on the Poor
Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and co. insist that the IRS needs to know about $600 bank accounts.
