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GrapheneOS Defends Data-Wiping Function That Blocked US Border Search
2 months ago
- GrapheneOS developer defends the legality of its security features after an activist used a duress password to wipe his phone, blocking federal agents.
- Environmental activist Sam Tunick used a duress password on his GrapheneOS-equipped Pixel phone during a CBP search, wiping the device irreversibly.
- The US filed a criminal indictment against Tunick for allegedly destroying property under government control, potentially the first case targeting GrapheneOS.
- GrapheneOS offers features like an auto-reboot timer to protect data without needing a duress password, making data recovery impossible after wiping.
- The case reignites the debate between privacy and US investigatory powers, similar to past disputes with Apple and encryption backdoors.
- Tunick faces up to five years in prison; his lawyers argue constitutional rights were violated during the interrogation.
End to End Encryption: Talk for the European Internet Forum at the European Parliament - Bert Hubert's writings
2 months ago
- Backdoored encryption has historically failed, exemplified by the weakened GSM encryption from the Cold War era still being vulnerable today.
- Forcing encryption backdoors creates risks and inequalities, as some entities may get exceptions while others do not.
- Total privacy without exceptions is not viable for a just society; a balance must be struck between law enforcement needs and privacy rights.
- Law enforcement has more data access now than ever before, contrary to claims of a crisis, as seen with cloud providers and metadata.
- Encryption is becoming the default in communications, which challenges traditional police methods but also represents progress.
- Proponents of backdoored encryption should be asked for specific, workable details rather than vague proposals.
- Any solution must respect Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, balancing privacy with the rule of law.
Possible End to End to End Encryption: Come Help - Bert Hubert's writings
2 months ago
- The European Commission is seeking experts to advise on 'effective and lawful access to data for law enforcement', with applications open until September 1st.
- The initiative aims to balance law enforcement needs with privacy, though critics note it leans toward surveillance and lacks leadership from justice and fundamental rights bodies.
- Experts with technical profiles in cybersecurity, telecommunications, big data, or fundamental rights are encouraged to apply, despite the role being unpaid (travel reimbursed).
- The author urges technologists and civil society members to join to counterbalance law enforcement perspectives, emphasizing the mathematical limits of encryption.
- The expert group will operate for one year; the author declines to apply due to their public activism but offers to advise informally.
The Chickens and the Bulls (2012)
2 months ago
- In July 1965, Detective James McDonnell arrested John Aitken for impersonating a police officer at Grand Central Station, leading to a confession about a large-scale gay extortion ring.
- The extortion ring, known as 'Chickens and the Bulls,' involved impersonators posing as vice squad detectives who blackmailed closeted gay men, including prominent figures like a Navy admiral, generals, a congressman, and celebrities.
- The ring operated across the U.S. for nearly a decade, extorting over $2 million from thousands of victims by threatening to expose their homosexuality.
- Investigations by the NYPD and FBI, led by McDonnell and others, broke the ring in 1965-1966, with prosecutors like Robert Morgenthau and Andrew Maloney working to protect victims' identities and avoid public exposure.
- Key ringleaders included John Pyne, Sherman Kaminsky, and Edward 'Skull' Murphy, who later became a gay activist and community icon after cooperating with authorities.
- Victims often refused to testify due to fear of exposure, with some suffering severe consequences, such as Admiral William Church's suicide after being confronted.
- The case marked a shift in law enforcement, as authorities set aside homophobia to treat victims as crime victims, leading to convictions and the end of NYPD entrapment practices.
- Media coverage was discreet to avoid outing victims, though the New York Times highlighted the ring's scope in 1966, reflecting societal homophobia.
- Edward Murphy, after his arrest, became a Stonewall figure and AIDS activist, symbolizing the transformation in gay rights post-case.
- The ring's downfall resulted from police persistence, victim cooperation, and sensitive handling, with many perpetrators pleading guilty to avoid public trials.
Texas wins court order to suspend domain name for violating age-verification law
2 months ago
- Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a court order to cut off the pornographic website motherless.com's domain name operation for failing to protect children from harmful sexual content, setting a precedent for enforcing age-verification laws.
- In April 2024, Paxton sued the site's owner, Kick Online Entertainment, for violating Texas age-verification law, obtaining a default judgment and permanent injunction, but the company ignored it and continued publishing material accessible to minors.
- A court-ordered writ now directs Verisign to lock the domain, allowing release only if a $9.14 million bond is posted and age verification compliant with Texas law is implemented, along with paying civil penalties.
- Paxton stated this establishes a precedent to strip websites of domains for ignoring laws that harm children with pornography, emphasizing protection involves shutting down non-compliant sites and ongoing action against such websites.
- The writ shows Texas can hold foreign operators accountable beyond borders and will use legal mechanisms like domain attachment writs to enforce laws and prevent companies from profiting by exposing children to harmful content.
LAPD lets contract with surveillance giant Flock expire
2 months ago
- LAPD will not renew its contract with Flock Safety due to civil liberties and privacy concerns.
- Flock's network includes at least 80,000 cameras that scan license plates for police and federal agencies.
- Other U.S. cities have also ended deals with Flock over privacy and surveillance issues.
- Flock cameras have faced backlash, including vandalism and unauthorized reinstallations.
- Errors with license plate readers have led to wrongful police stops, detentions, and arrests.
- Security lapses exposed Flock cameras and data, raising concerns about hacking and data privacy.
- Flock expressed surprise at the contract end, claiming it could address misconceptions.
Hackers Use Fake Emergency Requests to Steal Data from Apple, Meta and Others
2 months ago
- Hackers tricked companies like Apple, Meta, and Discord into handing over user data using fake emergency data requests (EDR).
- Criminals exploit compromised law enforcement email accounts to send forged EDRs with real names and signatures, appearing legitimate.
- Companies often verify requests via valid domains but lack specific tools, leading to quick compliance (e.g., within 30 minutes).
- Discord, Apple, and Meta have been targeted since early 2021, with some complying despite later discovering the compromised accounts.
- A privacy service like Bitdefender's Digital Identity Protection can help users manage digital footprints and receive breach notifications.

law enforcement

GrapheneOS Defends Data-Wiping Function That Blocked US Border Search

End to End Encryption: Talk for the European Internet Forum at the European Parliament - Bert Hubert's writings

Possible End to End to End Encryption: Come Help - Bert Hubert's writings

The Chickens and the Bulls (2012)

Texas wins court order to suspend domain name for violating age-verification law

LAPD lets contract with surveillance giant Flock expire

Hackers Use Fake Emergency Requests to Steal Data from Apple, Meta and Others