Hasty Briefsbeta

All tags

#surveillance

256 stories total

Bilingual

Sacramento Uses Smart Electric Meters to Spy on Residents
9 months ago
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) monitors electricity usage and reports high consumption to police.
- Over 33,000 households flagged for 'high' electricity usage, often leading to unwarranted police visits.
- One individual, Alfonso Nguyen, was falsely accused of growing cannabis due to his electric wheelchair usage.
- Police target high electricity users, suspecting illegal cannabis cultivation, despite legal home growing limits.
- SMUD uses smart meters to collect detailed electricity data in 15-minute intervals, aiding police surveillance.
- Threshold for 'suspicious' electricity usage has dropped from 7,000 kWh/month in 2014 to 2,800 kWh/month in 2023.
- SMUD and police disproportionately target Asian households, leading to a lawsuit over racial profiling.
- EFF argues SMUD's data sharing with police violates California's constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.
- Smart devices also allow utilities to remotely control home appliances, often without clear user consent.
- Programs offering lower bills in exchange for utility control over devices like thermostats are becoming common.
Britain's spies-for-hire are running wild
9 months ago
- London's Mayfair district hosts headquarters of top British private spy firms.
- These firms have ominous names reminiscent of James Bond villains.
- Business for private intelligence firms in the U.K. is booming.
- They hire ex-spies, police officers, journalists, and military intelligence officials.
- Services range from corporate checks to full-scale surveillance.
- Some firms engage in illegally obtaining highly personal information.
Hundreds of agencies tap Atherton surveillance system for feds; Fails own rules
9 months ago
- Atherton shares sensitive surveillance data with 295 outside agencies, including federal and immigration enforcement, despite California law and town policies.
- Atherton uses Flock Safety's 50 cameras to capture license plates, with 45 million vehicles passing annually, retaining data for 30 days.
- Outside agencies conducted 2.9 million searches of Atherton's ALPR database from Jan. 1 to July 15, 2025, averaging 40 searches per user monthly.
- Atherton's policy requires review of every search request and a specified reason, but compliance has lapsed since January.
- Bakersfield PD searched Atherton's ALPR system for 'HSI' (Homeland Security Investigations), raising concerns about immigration enforcement collaboration.
- Amador County Sheriff's Office and Anaheim PD also searched Atherton's database, with some searches linked to ICE and CBP.
- California law prohibits state and local agencies from aiding federal immigration enforcement, but some agencies admit to violating this.
- Flock's ALPR network in Illinois was similarly used for immigration enforcement, bypassing state restrictions.
- Civil liberties groups argue warrantless ALPR searches violate the Fourth Amendment, with a lawsuit pending in Virginia.
- Atherton's ALPR policy lacks enforcement, with agencies often providing vague reasons like 'crime' for searches.
- Privacy advocates call for stricter access controls, retention policy enforcement, and accountability for policy violations.
German police expands use of Palantir surveillance software
9 months ago
- German police expands use of Palantir's Gotham surveillance software, which rapidly aggregates vast amounts of data to create comprehensive profiles.
- Three German states (Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia) use Gotham; Baden-Württemberg plans to adopt it soon.
- Privacy advocates criticize the software for potentially ensnaring innocent people and violating fundamental rights.
- The Society for Civil Rights (GFF) filed a constitutional complaint against Bavaria's use of Palantir, citing breaches of informational self-determination.
- Chaos Computer Club opposes the software, calling it opaque and warning of long-term police dependency on Palantir.
- Palantir's software, used in high-profile cases like the Munich consulate attack, raises concerns about data security and US access.
- Germany's government aims for digital sovereignty but remains divided on Palantir, with Interior Minister Dobrindt open to its adoption.
- Public opposition is strong, with over 264,000 signing a petition against Palantir's use in Germany.
Phone Is a Snitch – Untraceable Digital Dissident
9 months ago
- Phones constantly track location, contacts, and activities without consent.
- Encryption and privacy apps don't fully prevent data leaks due to network architecture.
- Phones broadcast IMEI and location data to towers, stored indefinitely by corporations and governments.
- Powering off doesn't stop tracking unless the battery is physically removed.
- Burner phones are only effective if used with strict operational security.
- Metadata reveals behavior patterns, making deviations or routines identifiable.
- Strategies to reduce exposure include controlled chaos, consistent camouflage, and using WiFi-only devices.
- Extreme measures like going phoneless may be necessary for high-risk individuals.
- Phones are inherently non-private and belong to the network, not the user.
Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians
9 months ago
- Microsoft's Azure cloud platform was used by Israel's Unit 8200 to store and analyze millions of Palestinian phone calls for mass surveillance.
- The system, operational since 2022, facilitated deadly airstrikes and military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Microsoft claims it was unaware of the surveillance use, but leaked documents and sources indicate close collaboration with Unit 8200.
- The cloud-based system stores calls for about a month, allowing retrieval of conversations of individuals who later become of interest.
- Unit 8200's commander, Yossi Sariel, prioritized the project, leveraging Microsoft's Azure for expansive data storage and AI-driven analysis.
- The system failed to prevent the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, leading to Sariel's resignation.
- Microsoft faced internal and external criticism for its ties to Israel's military and the role of its technology in the Gaza conflict.
Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data from AI Cameras with Cops
9 months ago
- Lowe’s and Home Depot are funding AI-powered license plate reading cameras in their parking lots, feeding data into a law enforcement surveillance system.
- Records show the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office can access Flock cameras at 173 Lowe’s locations nationwide and Home Depot stores in Texas, including gunshot-detecting microphones.
- Flock’s surveillance network includes both police-operated and privately-owned cameras, expanding its reach across the U.S.
- EFF’s Dave Maass raises concerns about customer privacy and safety, questioning whether customers are aware their data is being collected and shared.
- Flock’s ALPR cameras constantly scan license plates, creating a database of people’s movements accessible to police, often without a warrant.
- Government agencies can share Flock camera data statewide or nationwide, while private companies have more restrictive sharing options.
Israel is reportedly storing Palestinian phone calls on Microsoft servers
9 months ago
- Israel has been recording and storing millions of Palestinian phone calls since 2022 as part of a surveillance effort.
- The recordings are stored on Microsoft Azure servers, with a segregated area reportedly approved by CEO Satya Nadella.
- The surveillance data has allegedly been used to prepare airstrikes and shape military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Microsoft faces scrutiny for its role in Israel's military actions, with employees protesting and refusing to work on related Azure contracts.
- An external review commissioned by Microsoft found no evidence of Azure being used to harm people, but reports suggest otherwise.
- Google has also been accused of assisting Israel by expanding access to AI tools for military use.
Lowe's and Home Depot are sharing customer data with law enforcement
9 months ago
- Stores use Flock cameras to collect license plate data from cars in parking lots.
- Law enforcement uses this data for expanding surveillance systems.
- Home improvement stores are contributing to a large surveillance network coordinated by Flock Safety.
- Customers are likely unaware their data is being collected and shared indiscriminately.
- Concerns include potential misuse by law enforcement, such as stalking or targeting specific groups.
- The current trajectory suggests this issue will eventually affect more people.
Nothing to Hide
9 months ago
- Sarah initially believes she has nothing to hide and doesn't mind surveillance.
- Her neighbors, Alex and his wife, start monitoring her activities under the guise of ensuring her safety.
- Their surveillance escalates to intrusive behaviors like reading her grocery list, opening her packages, and listening to her calls.
- Sarah realizes the importance of privacy when she feels suffocated by constant observation.
- She gets a restraining order against the couple and reflects on how privacy allows space for human dignity.
- Her friend Andrea supports mass surveillance, showing how common the 'nothing to hide' mindset is.
- The article explains the dangers of backdoors in security systems, which can be exploited by hackers.
- Privacy is framed as essential for human freedom, not just about hiding wrongdoing.
- The piece concludes by questioning the trust placed in surveillance systems and the potential for abuse.
Fight Chat Control
9 months ago
- The 'Chat Control' proposal mandates scanning all private digital communications, including encrypted messages and photos, threatening privacy and security.
- Automatic scanning of every photo, message, and file without consent or suspicion amounts to mass surveillance for all 450 million EU citizens.
- Breaking end-to-end encryption exposes sensitive communications to hackers, criminals, and hostile actors.
- Undermines fundamental rights to privacy and data protection as per Articles 7 and 8 of the EU Charter.
- Automated scanners often misidentify innocent content, leading to false accusations and damaging investigations.
- Mass surveillance fails to prevent child abuse and makes children less safe by weakening security for everyone.
- Sets a dangerous global precedent for authoritarian governments to implement intrusive surveillance.
- EU politicians exempt themselves from surveillance under 'professional secrecy' rules, creating an unfair system.
Conversations remotely detected from cell phone vibrations, researchers report
9 months ago
- Researchers at Penn State demonstrated 'wireless-tapping,' a method to remotely transcribe phone calls using radar measurements from up to 3 meters away.
- The technique captures vibrations from a phone's earpiece and uses AI-powered speech recognition to decode conversations, achieving ~60% accuracy for a 10,000-word vocabulary.
- The study builds on a 2022 project that identified predefined words with 83% accuracy using radar and voice recognition.
- Millimeter-wave radar sensors, similar to those in self-driving cars and 5G networks, were used in the experimental setup.
- The research aims to raise awareness about potential privacy risks posed by compact, radar-based surveillance devices.
- Open-source AI speech recognition models like 'Whisper' were adapted to interpret low-quality radar data.
Flock Now Using AI to Report to Police If Our Movement Patterns Are "Suspicious"
9 months ago
- Flock, a surveillance company, uses AI to analyze driving patterns and report 'suspicious' movement to police.
- The company's system tracks nationwide vehicle movements, allowing police to search records and now generate suspicion via AI.
- New features like 'Multi-State Insights' and 'Linked Vehicles' expand surveillance to track associations and cross-state movements.
- Concerns include lack of transparency about AI algorithms, potential biases, and over-policing of marginalized communities.
- Critics argue such systems lead to mission creep and undermine privacy, urging communities to reject mass surveillance.
Schools are next for Flock Safety's automatic license place reader cameras
9 months ago
- Flock Safety is expanding its automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras to schools.
- Raptor Technologies will integrate Flock cameras into school safety products, focusing on dismissal procedures.
- Flock's surveillance network includes over 83,000 cameras used by 4,500 law enforcement agencies and 1,000 businesses.
- Privacy concerns arise as Flock maintains a centralized database with over a billion license plate reads monthly.
- A lawsuit seeks to stop Flock camera usage in Norfolk, Virginia, citing privacy violations.
- Raptor and Flock emphasize creating 'safe corridors for student travel' with easy-to-install surveillance tech.
- Critics argue schools should not become expansion points for police surveillance without parental consent.
- Questions remain about whether Flock and Raptor will monetize the data collected from schools.
What Does Palantir Actually Do?
9 months ago
- Palantir is a controversial software company co-founded by Peter Thiel, known for its work with government agencies and military organizations.
- Public misconceptions about Palantir include it being a data broker, data miner, or maintaining a centralized database, which the company denies.
- Former employees struggle to clearly define Palantir's operations, highlighting its complex and multifaceted nature.
- Palantir's software, like Foundry and Gotham, helps organizations integrate and analyze data without altering underlying systems.
- The company uses military-inspired jargon and marketing, positioning itself as a powerful, quasi-military intelligence partner.
- Palantir's culture is described as meritocratic, but some former employees say it discourages dissent.
- Concerns exist about Palantir's potential misuse by authoritarian regimes to manipulate data and narratives.
- Palantir's tools can amplify human biases, leading to both positive and devastating outcomes depending on user intentions.
The Facial-Recognition Sham
9 months ago
- Tea Dating Advice, an app promising privacy for women, suffered two major security breaches, leaking 70,000 user images and over 1 million private messages.
- Despite claims of strict verification, a middle-aged man easily bypassed Tea's security by using a generic photo of a woman, raising concerns about the app's safety measures.
- The UK's Online Safety Act and similar US proposals like KOSA mandate age verification, often requiring invasive methods like facial recognition or government IDs, which can be circumvented.
- Age-verification laws in states like Utah and Louisiana risk being used to block LGBTQ content and medically accurate information under the guise of protecting children.
- New York's 'Safe for Kids Act' aims to protect teens from social media toxicity but may rely on flawed verification technologies like facial recognition.
- Broad safety measures applicable to all users, regardless of age, could protect privacy while addressing online harms without invasive surveillance.
- Sacrificing anonymity for safety risks giving governments and corporations unprecedented power to track online activities, mirroring surveillance systems in authoritarian regimes.
It Looks Like a School Bathroom Smoke Detector. It Could Be an Audio Bug
9 months ago
- Reynaldo Vasquez-Garcia, a 16-year-old hacker, discovered Motorola's Halo 3C smart smoke and vape detection devices in his school's Wi-Fi network.
- The Halo 3C includes features like detecting THC vaping, aggression, gunshots, and keywords, raising surveillance concerns.
- Vasquez-Garcia and hacker 'Nyx' reverse-engineered the Halo 3C, revealing vulnerabilities allowing full control, including eavesdropping and fake alerts.
- Motorola released a firmware update to fix the flaws, but concerns remain about hidden microphones in schools and public housing.
- The device's marketing highlights its use in detecting vaping, aggression, and keywords like 'help,' with applications in schools and public housing.
- Nyx and Vasquez-Garcia emphasize the risks of IoT devices with microphones, urging skepticism about claims of safety and privacy.
Microsoft launch inquiry on Israel use of tech for surveillance of Palestinians
9 months ago
- Microsoft has launched an urgent external inquiry into allegations that Israel’s Unit 8200 used Azure for mass surveillance of Palestinians.
- The inquiry follows a Guardian investigation revealing Azure was used to store recordings of millions of Palestinian calls in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Microsoft stated that mass surveillance of civilians via Azure violates its terms of service.
- This is the second external review into Microsoft’s technology use by the Israeli military, with the first finding no evidence of non-compliance.
- Concerns arose among Microsoft executives that Israel-based employees may have concealed information about Azure’s use by Unit 8200.
- A worker-led campaign, No Azure for Apartheid, accuses Microsoft of complicity in genocide and demands cutting ties with the Israeli military.
- Leaked files indicate Microsoft knew in 2021 that Unit 8200 planned to move sensitive intelligence data to Azure, though executives claim unawareness of surveillance use.
- The inquiry will examine military-commercial agreements, with findings to be shared publicly.
The Unusual Nonprofit That Helps ICE Spy on Wire Transfers
8 months ago
- ICE uses the TRAC database to track undocumented immigrants through financial transactions.
- TRAC contains over 340 million wire transfer records, including sender and recipient details.
- Arizona's state attorney general powers TRAC with administrative subpoenas, bypassing judicial oversight.
- Privacy advocates criticize TRAC for disproportionately targeting immigrants and lacking safeguards.
- ICE has heavily utilized TRAC, contributing data and funding its operations.
- TRAC's origins trace back to 2006, expanding under successive Arizona attorneys general.
- The database's $500 threshold for tracking transactions is criticized as insufficient to protect privacy.
- TRAC operates as a nonprofit but maintains close ties with law enforcement agencies.
- Legal challenges against TRAC have been dismissed, with current AG Kris Mayes defending its use.
- Mayes' administration has increased secrecy around TRAC, withholding operational details.
Where are you being recorded? Almost everywhere
8 months ago
- Surveillance has expanded beyond high-security areas to everyday spaces like parks and homes due to smart devices, Ring doorbells, CCTV, and facial recognition.
- Albert Fox Cahn, a privacy advocate, highlights surveillance in various daily environments: homes, workplaces, shops, public spaces, and transit.
- Tips to limit surveillance exposure: avoid smart devices, use VPNs, shun facial recognition venues, delete social media apps when traveling, and leave non-essential devices behind.
- Organizing and demanding better privacy protections from organizations and lawmakers is crucial to combat mass surveillance.

first prev3next

About|Login

#surveillance

Sacramento Uses Smart Electric Meters to Spy on Residents

Britain's spies-for-hire are running wild

Hundreds of agencies tap Atherton surveillance system for feds; Fails own rules

German police expands use of Palantir surveillance software

Phone Is a Snitch – Untraceable Digital Dissident

Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians

Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data from AI Cameras with Cops

Israel is reportedly storing Palestinian phone calls on Microsoft servers

Lowe's and Home Depot are sharing customer data with law enforcement

Nothing to Hide

Fight Chat Control

Conversations remotely detected from cell phone vibrations, researchers report

Flock Now Using AI to Report to Police If Our Movement Patterns Are "Suspicious"

Schools are next for Flock Safety's automatic license place reader cameras

What Does Palantir Actually Do?

The Facial-Recognition Sham

It Looks Like a School Bathroom Smoke Detector. It Could Be an Audio Bug

Microsoft launch inquiry on Israel use of tech for surveillance of Palestinians

The Unusual Nonprofit That Helps ICE Spy on Wire Transfers

Where are you being recorded? Almost everywhere