U.S. News/Police Violence
UN: Governments use counter-terrorism and violent extremism 'rhetoric' to justify invasive surveillance tech:
"UN Special Rapporteur Fionnuala Ní Aoláin highlights three particular trends that characterize the use of new technologies in counter-terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism. She highlights that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated biometric data collection and both further exceptionalized and normalized its use... In the past five years, drone technology has followed the same well-worn path from the battlefield to the home front that has been observed in policing tactics and weaponry generally."
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1134552
UNHCR Begins Biometric Registration Project in Somalia:
https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/unhcr-somalia-operational-update-1-28-february-2023
Iraqis Tortured by the U.S. in Abu Ghraib Never Got Justice:
https://theintercept.com/2023/03/17/iraq-war-torture-abu-ghraib/
Republican August Pluger said 'American companies will not be complicit in these atrocious human rights violations' in Russia:
https://thefederalnewswire.com/stories/640058452-pfluger-american-companies-will-not-be-complicit-in-these-atrocious-human-rights-violations-in-ccp
Republican bill would give South Carolina women the death penalty for abortions:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/south-carolina-abortion-death-penalty_n_64110091e4b0cfde25c1c647
Texas judge to consider banning abortion pill in US:
https://www.reuters.com/legal/texas-judge-consider-banning-abortion-pill-us-2023-03-15/
Governors To Pharmacies: Please Clarify Your Abortion Pill Plans Using Actual Science:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/governors-pharmacies-medication-abortion-walgreens_n_641086d1e4b00c3e60702053
Florida Republican's Bill Would Ban Young Girls From Discussing Their Periods In School
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/17/florida-bill-girls-periods-school-gop/
Florida Republican claims bill allowing the Confederate flag to be flown outside gov't buildings was filed in error:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/florida-republican-jay-collins-says-he-filed-confederate-flag-bill-in-error
Chinese police target U.S.-based woman who signed a critical Chang.org petition:
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/police-target-petition-03062023144732.html
Texas Bill Would Create Unit of Unaccountable Border Cops: "Have Immunity From Criminal and Civil Liability”
https://reason.com/2023/03/15/texas-bill-would-create-unit-of-unaccountable-border-cops/
Border Patrol Chief Says DHS Does Not Have Operational Control of the Border:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/15/politics/border-control-hearing/index.html
Border Patrol celebrated their 20th anniversary March 17th:
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-celebrate-20th-anniversary
BS WARNING- TSA chief says facial recognition could lower the stress of traveling:
DHS Invites State Sponsor of Terrorism (Cuba) to Tour U.S. Maritime Security Facilities:
https://www.judicialwatch.org/dhs-invites-communist-state-sponsor/
DISGUSTED- Fight over DHS parole program will remain in South Texas:
A Texas court denied the federal government’s motion to transfer 21 states’ challenge to the DHS’s parole program for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan nationals. Previously and repeatedly in the litigation, Department of Justice attorneys said they expected a fair and impartial trial in the court, even though they also argued the venue was chosen by the states because the judge would be biased in their favor.
https://webservices.courthousenews.com/sites/Data/AppellateOpinionUploads/2023-13-3--12-18-25-623cv7.pdf
CDC bought access to Americans' phone location data to monitor compliance with lockdowns:
https://notthebee.com/article/cdc-bought-access-to-at-least-55-million-americans-phone-location-data-to-monitor-lockdown-compliance
US Agencies Double-Billed Wuhan Lab Virus Research Costs:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-government-agencies-may-have-been-double-billed-projects-wuhan-china-records-indicate-probe/
Michigan Gov. Admits COVID-19 Lockdowns Went Too Far:
https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_f43c7e72-c1be-11ed-92bd-5b73e21f1b7c.html
Pfizer signs $43B Seagen deal to sell cancer drugs:
https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/pfizer-buy-seagen-deal-valued-43-billion-2023-03-13/
DHS and Rank One Computing create West Fairmont Middle School Facial Recognition Database:
"We're building our database and getting people registered," Chad Norman Marion County Schools director of technology services said. Profile pictures of regular visitors to such places—parents, other caregivers and vendors, in the case of Marion County Schools—will all be scanned and uploaded into a file, with notations.
https://news.yahoo.com/facial-recognition-pilot-program-continues-033500064.html
Rank One Computing claims to have dominated NIST face recognition benchmarks:
https://roc.ai/2023/03/08/roc-ai-dominates-latest-nist-face-recognition-benchmarks/
CA assembly member claims new bill allows police to use facial recognition while protecting everyone's privacy:
https://www.davisvanguard.org/2023/03/ca-legislation-seeks-to-regulate-law-enforcement-use-of-facial-recognition-technology/
https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20232024/AB642/
Which Stores In NYC Are Scanning Your Face? No One Knows:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/technology/facial-recognition-stores.html
NYC’s Fairway supermarket uses facial recognition to allegedly ID shoplifters:
https://nypost.com/2023/03/16/nycs-fairway-store-using-facial-recognition-to-bust-thieves/
Amazon Go Store Accused of Violating NYC's Biometric Surveillance Law
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cyrusfarivar/2023/03/16/amazon-left-nyc-customers-in-the-dark-on-biometric-tracking-in-their-stores-lawsuit-claims/
Inwindow Outdoor and Bacardí to use facial recognition advertising in retail stores:
"Inwindow Paint murals includes LED's, seamless projection, AR, camera feeds, photo capture, facial recognition, facial morphing, motion tracking, and gesture technology."
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inwindow-outdoor-partners-with-bacardi-and-omg-to-launch-innovative-new-outdoor-retail-advertising-product-301774399.html
Madison Square Garden sues State Liquor Authority after being investigated for using facial recognition:
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/madison-square-garden-state-liquor-authority-lawsuit/
PimEyes (Facial Recognition) Crawled the Web for Dead People’s Photos:
https://www.wired.com/story/a-face-recognition-site-crawled-the-web-for-dead-peoples-photos/
IDEMIA Continues Long-Standing Partnership with Florida Department of Law Enforcement:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idemia-continues-long-standing-partnership-with-florida-department-of-law-enforcement-to-deliver-world-leading-mbis-cloud-technology-301768150.html
How To Make Your Own $10 Facial Recognition Person Sensor Modules:
https://www.instructables.com/Facial-Recognition-Using-the-Person-Sensor-and-Pic/
The Controversial Connection Between Georgetown University and the CIA:
"Yet, with more than two dozen ex-CIA officials among its teaching staff, the school tailors its courses towards producing the next generation of analysts, assassins, coup-plotters and economic hitmen, fast-tracking graduates into the upper echelons of the national security state."
https://www.mintpressnews.com/georgetown-langley-controversial-connection-cia/284004/
Even Rep. LaHood Likely Can't Sue the NSA or FBI to Protect His Rights:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/03/even-rep-lahood-likely-cant-sue-nsa-or-fbi-protect-his-rights
https://epic.org/rep-lahood-says-he-was-congressman-unlawfully-queried-by-fbi-under-section-702/
Coalition Calls for Hearings on FISA Section 702, Broader Surveillance Reform:
https://epic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AFP-Coalition-Letter-to-SSCI-HPSCI-House-and-Senate-Judiciary-on-Surveillance-Reform-3.15.2023.pdf
National Guard sued for using low-flying helicopters to clear George Floyd protesters:
https://www.courthousenews.com/national-guard-sued-for-using-low-flying-helicopters-to-clear-george-floyd-protesters/
Canada-based Versaterm Public Safety helps keep police department internal affairs secure (a secret):
https://www.versaterm.com/announcements/versaterm-public-safety-strengthens-its-portfolio-with-the-acquisition-of-iapro-solution-from-ci-technologies
Geofence Surveillance: First, They Spied on Protesters. Then Churches. You’re Next:
https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/geofence_surveillance_first_they_spied_on_protesters_then_churches_youre_next_short
Tupelo police real time crime center gets $1.6M in surveillance upgrades (CCTV cameras and license plate readers):
Santa Clara County police denies San Jose's Calvary Chapel Covid surveillance claims:
Atlanta Was a Constitution-Free Zone During “Stop Cop City” Week of Police Repression:
https://truthout.org/articles/atlanta-was-a-constitution-free-zone-during-stop-cop-city-week-of-action/
The ‘Stop Cop City’ Movement Is Bigger Than Atlanta Now:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak8xy/stop-cop-city-movement-bigger-than-atlanta
SHOCKING: Washington state bill to create statewide bias response teams with law enforcement powers fails in committee
(Who in their right mind would ever consider giving BS bias response teams law enforcement powers?)
https://www.thefire.org/news/washington-state-bill-set-create-statewide-bias-response-teams-law-enforcement-powers-fails
Ransomware Group Claims It Hacked Ring Doorbells:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvd9q/ransomware-group-claims-hack-of-amazons-ring
Lowes using Knightscope surveillance robots to monitor license plates, mobile devices in parking lots:
https://www.businessinsider.com/lowes-tests-egg-shaped-autonomous-robots-patrol-lots-theft-crime-2023-3
PRIVACY WARNING: First In The Nation - Pearland Police Gets OK To Use Drones BVLOS:
Drones can be dispatched immediately, circumventing traffic, and offering an advanced assessment of the incident scene and reducing risks to officers. This allows first responders to be 'on scene' virtually, in minimum response time, allowing them to observe the scene and relay critical information to other responding officers.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-in-the-nation---pearland-pd-expands-dfr-operations-to-include-bvlos-without-visual-observers-301771974.html
Brookhaven police drone as a first responder program:
https://www.policemag.com/patrol/article/15352357/drones-on-patrol
https://www.brookhavenga.gov/police/page/brookhaven-drone-first-responder
Flying Lion and Iris Automation to expand drones as a first responder programs:
https://flyinglioninc.com/flying-lion-and-iris-automation-add-airspace-awareness-capabilities-for-drone-as-first-responder-dfr-programs/
Zipline Unveills Home Drone Delivery Platform:
Police Violence
BS Warning- FBI Claims Hate Crime/Extremism Statistics At 20-Year High In 2021:
(The FBI still can't get police departments to release how often cops kill people or die in their custody but they accurately track hate crimes?)
https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-releases-supplemental-2021-hate-crime-statistics
New bill would turn on cameras at Supreme Court arguments:
https://www.courthousenews.com/new-bill-would-turn-on-cameras-at-supreme-court-arguments/
DOJ Opposes Ending “Acquitted Conduct Sentencing”
"At its core, the DOJ administration’s central argument is just an appeal to tradition – a tradition that virtually the entire legal community recognizes as unconstitutional, or fundamentally unjust."
https://blog.simplejustice.us/2023/03/13/doj-opposes-ending-acquitted-conduct-sentencing/
Lancaster County Detective’s Theft of Forfeiture Funds Underscores Need to End Civil Forfeiture:
https://ij.org/press-release/ij-lancaster-county-detectives-theft-of-forfeiture-funds-underscores-need-to-end-civil-forfeiture/
Police Found a Blunt in Their Car. So They Seized Their Kids:
https://reason.com/2023/03/16/police-found-a-blunt-in-their-car-so-they-seized-their-kids/
Oregon Man Was Wrongly Imprisoned for Almost a Year Because of an Error in a DMV Database:
Bipartisan Bill Would Dramatically Reform Civil Forfeiture Laws:
https://ij.org/press-release/bipartisan-bill-in-congress-would-dramatically-reform-civil-forfeiture-laws/
No Charges For Cop Who Executed A Black Man Trying To Run Away Shot Him In The Head Twice:
https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-malcolm-johnson-kansas-city-missouri-ff4ed4825dc3ce92881cb1bfc8241d58
What Will It Take To Hold A Cop Accountable For Killing Someone In San Francisco?
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/san-francisco-police-accountability-keita-oneil
Charges of communicating threats and resisting arrest dropped against unarmed, disabled man shot by SWAT:
https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/35276-charges-dropped-against-police-shooting-victim
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2023/02/01/wnc-man-shot-cherokee-swat-team-out-of-hospital-sbi-investigating/69859982007/
https://nypost.com/2023/01/23/unarmed-disabled-man-jason-kloepfer-shot-by-cops-video/
NYPD commissioner let more cops off the hook for misconduct than predecessors:
https://nypost.com/2023/03/16/nypd-top-cop-let-far-more-cops-off-the-hook-for-misconduct-than-predecessors/
https://legalaidnyc.org/news/nypd-commissioner-sewell-flouted-ccrb-discipline-recommendations/
Louisville Police Abuses Show Civil Liberties Are Meaningless Without Accountability:
https://reason.com/2023/03/15/police-abuses-in-louisville-show-civil-liberties-are-meaningless-without-accountability/
North Carolina City Council Questions Police Chief Over Their Crime Area Target Team:
https://indyweek.com/news/durham/council-members-question-police-chief-over-crime-fighting-team/
DC Police Union hired lobbyists in effort to overturn crime bills:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dc-police-union-hired-lobbyists-132703969.html
Vermont town officials oppose police misconduct bill drafted by Bennington senators:
"These civilian boards would receive, investigate and rule on misconduct complaints against police officers, then issue sanctions in accordance with collective bargaining agreements."
https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/12/bennington-officials-oppose-police-oversight-bill-drafted-by-bennington-senators/
David Vaz's conviction overturned "due to pattern of neglect" of Vermont prosecutor and Supreme Court judge's failure to turn over exculpatory evidence:
“The discovery violation in this case is clear, serious, and inexcusable,” Judge Lisa Warren wrote in the decision. “It is not an isolated incident, but rather appears to be a pattern of neglect in discovery practices, which has continued since the late disclosure in the instant case.”
https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/15/conviction-overturned-in-2022-case-prosecuted-by-judge-jennifer-barrett/
Vermont lawmakers consider limiting forced restraints and seclusion's in schools:
"On Tuesday, the House Committee on Education heard testimony on H.409, which would prohibit schools from secluding students and limit the use of physical restraints. As written, the bill also would require officials to report and track any instances of restraint and seclusion in schools."
https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/14/vermont-lawmakers-consider-limiting-restraint-and-seclusion-in-schools/
CT Lawmakers To Debate Child Interrogation Tactics (Police Lying):
"Connecticut would prohibit police from lying to minors while attempting to secure a confession under a bill promoted Wednesday by lawmakers and advocates including men who served more than a decade in prison due to false confessions."
https://ctnewsjunkie.com/2023/03/08/lawmakers-to-debate-child-interrogation-tactics/
'Cop City' Activist Had Hands Up When Fatally Shot By Police:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/atlanta-cop-city-activist-fatally-shot-by-police-had-hands-up-family-lawyers-say_n_640cae9ee4b0d15457b61dfb
Family of ‘Cop City’ protester killed by police demands answers:
USPS Wants Postal Police To Patrol DC Streets:
Take terror out of terrorism:
https://www.concordmonitor.com/My-Turn-On-terrorism-50202876
The Supreme Court Keeps Deciding It Should Be Even More Powerful:
Judge Calls Stanford Law Students 'Appalling Idiots' After Refusing To Answer Their Questions:
Police supervisor in Tyre Nichols’ death retired with benefits day prior to termination hearing:
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3906979-police-supervisor-in-tyre-nichols-death-retired-with-benefits-day-prior-to-termination-hearing-reports
Daytona Beach cop gets 25 years for running child porn ring:
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/courts/2023/03/15/ex-daytona-beach-police-officer-sentenced-to-prison-in-child-porn-case/70011243007/
Cop sentenced to 14 years for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl who was already a rape victim:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/14-year-sentence-cop-molested-teen-rape-victim-97861945
Family claims ex-football player Stanley Wilson died from brutal police beating:
https://www.tmz.com/2023/03/14/stanley-wilson-jr-s-family-claims-law-enforcement-officials-beat-him-before-death/
A Black man was found dead after he told his mom he was being chased. Police said there's ‘no reason’ to suspect foul play:
https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2023/03/who-killed-rasheem-carter/
7 Virginia deputies charged in Black man's death at state mental hospital:
https://www.nbc12.com/2023/03/15/commonwealths-attorney-says-video-henrico-deputies-is-distrubing/
The Family of Black Man Killed By Cops While Experiencing Mental Crisis Speaks Out:
https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2023/03/irvo-otieno-virginia-police-mental-illness-murder-black/
Family of Black man killed by Memphis corrections officers want them to be held accountable:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/family-black-man-killed-memphis-jail-wants-guards-be-held-accountable-2023-03-17/
Three Michigan troopers charged with assault against bicyclist:
https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/michigan-state-troopers-charged-with-assault-against-bicyclist
Sheriff and 2 deputies arrested for helping a father kidnap his child:
https://ktvz.com/news/2023/03/17/missouri-sheriff-and-2-deputies-charged-in-connection-with-alleged-plot-to-help-a-father-kidnap-his-child/
Sheriff and two deputies charged in 'criminal street gang activity'
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/iron-county-sheriff-two-deputies-charged-in-criminal-street-gang-activity/article_94f34674-f505-5627-8aa2-ba93e4fc54b8.html
‘What if they start bashing their head into the wall?’: Sheriffs still use restraint chairs in Alabama jails
https://www.al.com/news/2023/03/what-if-they-start-bashing-their-head-into-the-wall-sheriffs-still-use-restraint-chairs-in-alabama-jails.html
Georgia sheriff who ordered detainees to be strapped to restraint chair sentenced to 18 months prison:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/14/us/georgia-sheriff-victor-hill-sentence/index.html
Lawsuit: Prosecutors Filed Bogus Charges Against Black Man in Retaliation for Challenging Seizure of Car:
Phoenix Police Killed Man Running From Them. Prosecutors Charged the Teen’s Friends with His Murder:
Family of Jacob Harris Files Lawsuit, Says Officer Lied to Grand Jury:
Defamation lawsuit over councilwoman calling cops ‘murderers’ tossed:
"First, councilwoman Kshama Sawant’s remarks are inactionable statements of opinion. Second, even if the Court were to construe Sawant’s remarks as actionable, factual statements, Seattle police officer Scott Miller and Michael Spaulding have failed to provide evidence that might allow a jury to find them to be false. Third, Miller and Spaulding have failed to provide sufficient evidence that Sawant acted with actual malice.”
https://webservices.courthousenews.com/sites/Data/AppellateOpinionUploads/2023-10-3--11-24-50-218cv00506%20(03.09.23).pdf
No charges for Phoenix cops filmed kicking suspect to a pulp:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/01/30/no-charges-to-be-filed-against-phoenix-officers-in-excessive-force-incident/69855362007/
Two Black Men Who Fought White Supremacist Corrections Officers Sentenced to Over 200 Years:
CT Trooper Arrested For Allowing Girlfriend to Access Confidential Information:
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/state-trooper-arrested-accused-of-allowing-girlfriend-to-access-confidential-information/2995119/
NH cop forced to resign for looking up info. on an individual on two separate occasions for personal reasons:
https://www.concordmonitor.com/Michael-Kosa-sentencing-50295602
Police captain arrested for drunk driving asks officer to turn off bodycam:
Off-duty NYPD lieutenant arrested for drunk driving — again:
https://nypost.com/2023/03/12/off-duty-nypd-lieutenant-arrested-for-alleged-drunk-driving/
NYC corrections captain convicted of criminally negligent homicide in inmate suicide:
How Harris County Built A System That Sends Poor People To Death Row:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/harris-county-texas-death-row_n_640240d0e4b0586db70d92b6
Judge allows case against York County corrections officers over Taser abuse to proceed to trial:
https://www.pressherald.com/2023/03/14/judge-allows-case-against-york-county-jail-guards-over-taser-use-to-proceed-to-trial/
Thirty-year sheriff's correction officer indicted on child porn charges:
https://www.wctv.tv/2023/03/15/former-lcso-corrections-officer-now-facing-federal-child-porn-charges/
Kentucky Prison Supervisor Guilty Of Concealing Assaults By Corrections Officers:
https://proclaimerscv.com/eastern-kentucky-prison-supervisor-was-found-guilty-of-concealing-assaults-by-corrections-officers/
San Mateo County sued for banning physical mail for inmates:
Prison warden sued for for strip-searching corrections officer who had a tampon in her pelvic region:
The Movement Behind the Judge and the Junk Science Poised to Block Access to Mifepristone:
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/mifepristone-texas-abortion-medication/
Orange County sheriff probes own crime lab at request of district attorney and finds nothing wrong:
Crime lab analyst accused of altering her findings to benefit prosecutors.
BS Warning: Audit claims procurement process caused Baltimore PD’s forensic lab backlogs
Charles McCrory's Conviction Relied on Debunked Bite-Mark Science. Why Is He Still Locked Up?
https://theintercept.com/2023/03/12/bite-mark-analysis-charles-mccrory-alabama/
DISGUSTED- Arkansas AG asks judge to dismiss West Memphis Three DNA petition because it was filed in the wrong COUNTY!
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/crime/attorney-general-dismiss-wm3-petition/91-534075b1-df32-40b5-a61b-357f50d7ea2b
LaKeith Smith being resentenced by the same judge who sent him to prison for murder when cops killed his friend:
"A small crowd of supporters, hoping for the best, was standing on the lawn in front of the building. They wanted to come in to watch the proceedings, but the judge had barred the public, including all journalists, from entering the courtroom."
https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3gkj/alabama-lakeith-smith-possible-release
How long before police use Samsung's “Scene Optimizer” feature to edit photos?
https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/15/23641069/samsung-fake-moon-controversy-english-language-blog-post
https://www.sammyfans.com/2021/10/22/one-ui-4-0-tip-how-to-use-scene-optimizer-on-samsung-devices/
How long before police use photo apps to edit photos?
https://gizmodo.com/best-ai-photoshop-apps-google-magic-erase-canva-web-1850231721
DOJ sues Rite Aid for missing opioid red flags: