Boston Dynamics robot is pure nightmare fuel
https://mashable.com/video/new-boston-dynamics-robot-electric-atlas
https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/17/boston-dynamics-atlas-humanoid-robot-goes-electric/
Activists, Harvard Students Disrupt Chinese Ambassador’s Speech Over Human Rights
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/4/22/protestors-disrupt-chinese-ambassador-hks-talk
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5670258
Oklahoma Prisoners Say They Were Locked In Filthy, Tiny 3x3 Shower Stalls for Days
"According to the lawsuit, staff at the Great Plains Correctional Center locked several inmates in small shower stalls for extended periods, without access to basic amenities like adequate food and water. Most were placed in 3-foot by 3-foot shower cells, though at least one was confined in an even smaller space. Confinement periods listed in the suit ranged from 24 hours to four days."
https://reason.com/2024/04/19/oklahoma-prisoners-say-they-were-locked-in-filthy-tiny-shower-stalls-for-days/
20 Years Later, Abu Ghraib Torture Victims Get Their Day in Court
"Meanwhile, the U.S. government still hasn't provided compensation or other redress to people tortured by U.S. troops in Iraq," said one observer.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/caci-abu-ghraib-2667775308
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/04/15/abu-ghraib-torture-case-finally-goes-trial
Retired general ties Abu Ghraib torture to CACI Premier Technology a civilian contractor
https://www.courthousenews.com/retired-general-ties-abu-ghraib-torture-to-civilian-contractors/
Doctor Returning From Gaza Describes Unforgettable Carnage
https://theintercept.com/2024/04/17/intercepted-gaza-doctor-volunteer-interview/
Netanyahu Resists U.S. Plan to Cut Off Aid to Israel’s Netzah Yehuda Military Unit
https://www.propublica.org/article/netanyahu-resists-blinken-plan-sanction-against-israeli-military-unit
Leaked Cables Show Biden Pressuring Nations to Oppose Palestine's UN Membership
https://theintercept.com/2024/04/17/united-nations-biden-palestine-statehood/
US Vetoes Palestine UN Membership
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/world/middleeast/palestinian-statehood-un-veto.html
Google Workers Revolt Over $1.2B Contract With Israel
https://time.com/6964364/exclusive-no-tech-for-apartheid-google-workers-protest-project-nimbus-1-2-billion-contract-with-israel/
Google Calls Police on Workers Protesting Israel Contracts, Cuts Badge Access
https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/17/24133056/google-protests-project-nimbus-no-tech-for-apartheid
Google Fires 28 Employees Who Protested $1.2B Contract With Israel
https://www.businessinsider.com/googlers-arrested-and-fired-israel-protest-project-nimbus-nyc-sunnyvale-2024-4
Columbia University Greenlights Police Crackdown on Anti-War Encampment
https://www.commondreams.org/news/columbia-arrests-palestine-protest
Pfizer Lied to Us Again
https://brownstone.org/articles/pfizer-lied-to-us-again/
Assange Case Moves Forward as CIA Covers Its Tracks
https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2024/04/17/assange-extradition-case-moves-forward-while-the-cia-covers-its-tracks/
Victims of CIA Kenyan hit squad win compensation after our exposé
https://www.declassifieduk.org/victims-of-cia-kenyan-hit-squad-win-compensation-after-our-expose/
Lawmakers eyeing solitary confinement crackdown in federal prisons, migrant detention facilities
https://www.courthousenews.com/lawmakers-eyeing-solitary-confinement-crackdown-in-federal-prisons-migrant-detention-facilities/
Supreme Court eyes anti-camping laws used against the homeless
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-eyes-anti-camping-laws-used-against-homeless-2024-04-22/
The Supreme Court case that could turn homelessness into a crime, explained
CA Senate Public Safety Committee Rejects bill that would make it a crime to be homeless
https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2024/04/california-homeless-camp-ban/
Oregon city forces Supreme Court to contend with national homelessness crisis
Washington Post pushes for Supreme Court to protect laws to punish the homeless
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/19/supreme-court-homeless-ninth-circuit-grants-pass/
NH DOT Finally Cleaning Up Massive Concord Homeless Camp
https://patch.com/new-hampshire/concord-nh/state-finally-cleaning-massive-homeless-camp-parcels-sale
City of San Rafael considers revised rules for homeless campers
https://www.marinij.com/2024/04/13/san-rafael-considers-revised-rules-for-homeless-campers/
DISGUSTED: BLM protest organizer held liable for cop’s injuries fails to earn Supreme Court review
SCOTUS Misses a Chance To Protect Peaceful Protesters
https://reason.com/2024/04/17/scotus-misses-a-chance-to-protect-peaceful-protesters/
Trump’s Forbidden Legal Strategy: What New York Law Won’t Let the Jury Do
https://www.justsecurity.org/94560/trump-trial-jury-nullification/
Michael Cohen says he can't recall Trump attending any of his kids' graduations
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-michael-cohen-2667788377/
ICE pursuing privacy approvals related to controversial phone location data
"Even though ICE says it has received no new requests for the use of commercial telemetry services since December 2022, the agency has filed a privacy impact assessment with the Department of Homeland Security’s privacy office for review. This kind of documentation is supposed to be released when agencies deploy a technology that could involve someone’s personal information."
https://fedscoop.com/ice-pursuing-privacy-approvals-related-to-controversial-phone-location-data/
Decoding distinctions in biometrics (facial recognition and face analysis)
https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2024/04/decoding-distinctions-biometrics/395862/
Maryland approves ‘strongest’ facial recognition rules for law enforcement yet
https://statescoop.com/maryland-facial-recognition-strongest-legislation/
S.T.O.P. is Working to Ban Police Facial Recognition in New York
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/04/stop-working-ban-scan-new-york
Cleaview AI: The Power of Facial Recognition in the U.S. Government
https://www.clearview.ai/federal
Auditing company that Clearview AI hired, claims they improved their privacy controls
https://insightassurance.com/soc-2-compliance-terms-and-definitions-you-should-know/
Clearview AI exploiting child trafficking concerns at two upcoming law enforcement conferences
https://www.clearview.ai/events
Clearview AI Added to the DoD’s Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace
https://www.clearview.ai/press-room/clearview-ai-added-to-the-department-of-defenses-tradewinds-solutions-marketplace
Palantir IR Added to the DoD’s Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace
https://investors.palantir.com/news-details/2024/Palantir-Designated-Awardable-Vendor-for-Department-of-Defense-Chief-Digital-and-Artificial-Intelligence-Offices-Tradewinds-Solutions-Marketplace/
Target hit with class-action lawsuit for using facial recognition to ID customers
https://www-nbcchicago-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/target-hit-with-class-action-lawsuit-claiming-it-violated-illinois-biometric-privacy-law/3410850/
Touring a Rental? A Facial Recognition Scan May Be Required
https://themarkup.org/privacy/2024/04/17/touring-a-rental-a-face-scan-may-be-required
City of Clemson bars, convenience stores, and liquor stores use Intellicheck to verify IDs
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416417814/en/City-of-Clemson-Partners-with-Intellicheck-to-Equip-Businesses-with-ID-Scanning-App-to-Address-Underage-Drinking
PaintCam: Facial recognition & Paintball firing security system
https://newatlas.com/technology/paintball-security-paintcam-eve/
Alcatraz AI's 'Rock-X' exterior access panel uses Paravision facial recognition
https://alcatraz.ai/blog/alcatraz-ai-unveils-rock-x-revolutionizing-exterior-access-control-with-frictionless-and-secure-facial-authentication-technology
ABSURD: Stanford University researchers claim facial recognition can be used to predict a person's political views
https://www.psypost.org/artificial-intelligence-can-predict-political-beliefs-from-expressionless-faces/
How the Kids Online Safety Act Might Pave the Way for Online Age Verification and Digital IDs
https://reclaimthenet.org/house-introduces-new-versions-of-child-safety-bills
Appeals court ruled forcing a person to use their fingerprint to open a cell phone dosen’t violate the 5th Amend
https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2024/04/17/22-50262.pdf
ACLU criticized the U.S. House vote to extend Section 702
https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/congress-passing-bill-that-massively-expands-the-governments-power-to-spy-on-americans-without-a-warrant
FISA: When In Doubt, Always Bet On Fear
https://www.cato.org/blog/fisa-when-doubt-always-bet-fear
NSA ’just days from taking over the internet’ warns Edward Snowden (Section 702)
https://cointelegraph.com/news/nsa-days-from-taking-over-internet-whistleblower-edward-snowden
Wyden Says Spying Bill Would Force Americans to Become an 'Agent for Big Brother'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/wyden-says-spying-bill-would-force-americans-to-become-an-agent-for-big-brother
Privacy Defenders Decry 'Spy Draft' in Section 702 Renewal Advanced by Senate
https://www.commondreams.org/news/fisa-section-702-renewal
Reformers hoped to curtail US domestic spying; lawmakers are poised to expand it
US Senate to Vote on a Wiretap Bill That Critics Call ‘Stasi-Like’
https://www.wired.com/story/senate-section-702-ecsr-provision/
Unpacking the FISA Section 702 Reauthorization Bill
The query provision also requires that any FBI personnel who conduct queries must receive annual training on applicable procedures. “Sensitive” queries – such as queries using terms associated with elected officials, politicians, media organizations and figures, and religious organizations and figures – would require higher-level approvals.
https://www.justsecurity.org/94771/unpacking-the-fisa-section-702-reauthorization-bill/
Senate Must Follow House’s Lead In Passing Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/04/19/senate-must-follow-houses-lead-in-passing-fourth-amendment-is-not-for-sale-act/
New SEC Program Gives 3,000 Government Employees Real-Time Access to the Stock Transactions of Millions of Americans
https://www.protectprivacynow.org/news/new-sec-program-gives-3000-government-employees-real-time-access-to-the-stock-transactions-of-millions-of-americans
Warrantless Surveillance Makes a Mockery of the Constitution
https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/down_with_big_brother_warrantless_surveillance_makes_a_mockery_of_the_constitution
House passes bill requiring warrant to purchase data from third parties
https://www.commondreams.org/news/fourth-amendment-is-not-for-sale-act
DHS Announces $1.8B in Preparedness Grants
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/04/16/dhs-announces-18-billion-preparedness-grants
DHS Accepting Applications For 2024 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program
"Previously funded recipients include Palm Beach County, who in 2023 was able to leverage their Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Team, created through their TVTP award, to stop an individual on the Palm Beach State College campus who had threatened mass violence."
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/04/15/applications-open-dhs-fy24-targeted-violence-and-terrorism-prevention-grants
Peters' Bill to Ensure DHS Can Procure Advanced Technologies to Strengthen National Security Passes Committee
Better Enabling Secure and Trustworthy (BEST) Technology for the Homeland Act
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4024/text
NACDL: Automated License Plate Readers Primer
https://www.nacdl.org/getattachment/49944c94-b295-475e-b575-36bda695286f/alprprimer.pdf
Philly police use 6,200 surveillance cameras and 225 license plate readers to spy on the public
"Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the department recently received a grant that will allow the department to install 25 license plate readers on patrol cars, as well as 200 stationary license plate readers across the city. Bethel said there are about 6,200 surveillance cameras installed across the city — more than a third of which are the department’s, while the others belong to partners like SEPTA. But drones, he said, are the future. The technology could be used to monitor drug markets from afar, gather intelligence, and even respond to certain 911 calls."
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-police-budget-hearing-kevin-bethel-20240409.html
Latest in National Surveillance Craze: Nearly 500 Surveillance Cameras in Oakland
https://www.protectprivacynow.org/news/latest-in-national-surveillance-craze-nearly-500-surveillance-cameras-in-oakland
Planned NYC subway body scans for weapons draw Fourth Amendment concerns
https://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/scanner-new-york-city-subway-random-search-uhw8tbvo
Police license plate readers to increase throughout county
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/license-plate-readers-to-increase-throughout-county/article_3af96c58-f0da-11ee-91f1-8b4e10075b4d.html
Asylon Robotics Launches DroneDog-2
https://asylonrobotics.com/dronedog-2-security-robot/
Asylon Robotics DroneDog's have completed 100K missions
https://asylonrobotics.com/100000-robotic-security-missions/
Police Magazine on Drones and K-9's: Thermal-Imaging Drones Can Be Used For "Aerial Reconnaissance" (Public Surveillance)
"Drones equipped with advanced thermal imaging cameras and aerial reconnaissance capabilities can assist by providing aerial overwatch to clear areas inaccessible to dogs. By conducting joint training exercises, law enforcement agencies can refine protocols, foster trust, and enhance collaboration between K-9 units and drone operators, Highland County Sheriff James Daniels said.
https://www.policemag.com/training/article/15665846/joint-training-exercises-refine-protocols-foster-trust-and-enhance-collaboration-between-k9-units-and-drone-operators
Skyfire Consulting Unveils Rise DFR Village Training and Test Site for Drone First Responders
https://insideunmannedsystems.com/skyfire-consulting-unveils-rise-dfr-village-training-and-test-site-for-drone-first-responders/
Skyfire Consulting: Drones as a First Responder
https://skyfireconsulting.com/drone-first-responder/
Elk Grove police secure $2.1M for 'Drone as First Responder' program
Redwood City police set to purchase drones and military equipment
"The Hyperspike comes with a price tag of $3,750, while the five 40mm Tactical 4-shot launchers cost approximately $9,500. The KTB has a price tag of $15,000."
https://www.rwcpulse.com/public-safety/2024/04/18/redwood-city-council-approves-purchase-of-drones-other-military-equipment-for-police/
Carlsbad police to purchase 12 drones and military equipment
"The Carlsbad City Council last week unanimously agreed to allow the police department to buy new drones and over a dozen less-lethal shot launchers and changed a policy to make it simpler for law enforcement to buy previously approved military-grade items."
https://thecoastnews.com/carlsbad-police-to-purchase-new-drones-less-lethal-launchers/
BBB Industries Donates Thermal Imaging Drone to Yazoo police
Police Violence
Supreme Court May Relax Federal Bribery Law
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/15/us/supreme-court-anti-corruption-law.html
https://www.courthousenews.com/justices-likely-to-limit-anti-bribery-law-for-gift-giving/
Victim of bribery scheme testifies in Hawaii prosecutor corruption case
https://www.courthousenews.com/victim-of-bribery-scheme-testifies-in-hawaii-prosecutor-corruption-case/
Supreme Court refuses to set strict deadline for criminal forfeiture orders
https://www.courthousenews.com/supreme-court-refuses-to-set-strict-deadline-for-criminal-forfeiture-orders/
Judges Banned From Using Acquitted Conduct at Defendants’ Sentencing
The Chief Prosecutor in Elkhart, Indiana, Is Accused of Misconduct
https://www.propublica.org/article/elkhart-indiana-prosecutor-accused-misconduct-vicki-becker
NY judge censured for making inappropriate statements about murder case
https://www.wwnytv.com/2024/04/16/st-lawrence-county-judge-be-censured-comments-about-murder-case/
A New Montana Police Force Chased a 17-Year-Old Boy to His Death. Then It Vanished
https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2024/04/crow-nation-police-accountability-braven-glenn-bia/
New court losses for controversial police training firm Street Cop in its records fights
"Street Cop, the police training firm with such controversial instruction that almost a dozen states, including New Jersey, have banned cops from its seminars, continued its losing streak in court this month, with judges in two states siding against the company."
https://newjerseymonitor.com/2024/04/16/new-court-losses-for-controversial-police-training-firm-street-cop-in-its-records-fights
2024 Street Cop Training Conference April 28-May 3 Orlando
https://www.streetcoptraining.com/2024-conference/
AI was supposed to make police bodycams better. What happened?
https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/04/16/1090846/ai-police-body-cams-cops-transparency/
JusticeText
"Transcribe hours of video footage in a matter of minutes."
https://justicetext.com/
Cops Tell Judge that Allowing the Public to See Body Cam Footage of a Botched Raid Would be “Dangerous"
https://indyweek.com/news/wake/raleigh-cops-tell-judge-that-allowing-the-public-to-see-footage-of-a-botched-raid-would-be-dangerous/
A cop ran a light going 88 mph and killed a young father of twins. He still has his badge
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/20/police-chase-fatal-pursuit-investigation/73360396007/
Family of Ricky Cobb II sues Minnesota troopers for killing their unarmed son
https://www.startribune.com/family-of-ricky-cobb-ii-files-lawsuit-against-minnesota-state-troopers-in-shooting/600359550/
'I Can't Breathe': Black Man Begs For Water Before Death In Police Custody
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/sep/02/i-cant-breathe-man-says-in-video-of-texas-arrest/
Video shows 3 white corrections officers watch as officer wrapped chain around Black detainee's neck and choked him
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/17/us/georgia-jail-inmate-incident-lawsuit/index.html
No Discipline for NYPD Cops Who Killed a Mentally-Ill Black Man in his Kitchen
"From his kitchen, Kawaski Trawick asked them repeatedly why they had pushed into his apartment, but got no answer. Within two minutes of arriving, NYPD officer Brendan Thompson shot Trawick with a Taser, which prompted Trawick to move toward the officers for the first time."
https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/04/14/no-discipline-nypd-officers-kawaski-trawick/
LDF Responds to NYPD Cops Killing of Mentally-ill Win Rozario
https://www.naacpldf.org/wp-content/uploads/3.28.2024-Win-Rozario-Killing-Statement-FINAL.pdf
DA's Error Exposes Potential Scope of Disgraced NYPD Detective’s Harm
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/15/nyregion/louis-scarcella-detective-overturned-conviction.html
Trial begins for NYPD cop accused of punching man at Apple store
https://gothamist.com/news/trial-begins-for-nypd-officer-accused-of-punching-man-at-uws-apple-store
NYPD cop pleads guilty to selliing fentanyl, heroin
https://news.yahoo.com/ex-nypd-cop-pleads-guilty-015405224.html
Eric Adams Announces He’s Matured Into a Mayor Who Is Above Police Accountability
https://hellgatenyc.com/adams-presser-trawick
How $1.2B in NYPD civil litigation case settlements went unreported
San Diego County must face claims over ‘subpar’ crime lab that led to wrongful conviction
Man arrested for having 450,000 doses of Fentanyl was actually baking soda
A New York man, Yan Cepeda, was busted at the Greyhound bus station in downtown Pittsburgh. The Attorney General’s office announced the major drug bust in a news release that Cepeda allegedly had nine kilograms of fentanyl, or 450,000 doses worth $1.6 million, along with other drugs. But 11 Investigates has learned that the fentanyl turned out to be a cutting agent, like baking soda.
https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/11-investigates-testing-reveals-fentanyl-seized-downtown-pittsburgh-was-actually-cutting-agent/7A2WIQXM3FGIFPM5LA7YRIY2HE
3 retired Philadelphia detectives to stand trial in perjury case stemming from 2016 exoneration
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/3-retired-philadelphia-detectives-to-stand-trial-in-perjury-case-stemming-from-2016-exoneration/
National Registry of Exonerations 2023 Report Cites 153 Exonerations – 3,478 Since 1989
https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/Exonerations-in-the-United-States-Map.aspx
https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Documents/2023%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Three San Francisco cops who killed Mario Gonzalez by sitting on him and asphyxiating him can be sued
Two sheriff’s deputies plead guilty to punching, kicking and bashing a handcuffed man’s head against the pavement
https://www.ky3.com/2024/04/21/2nd-former-arkansas-officer-pleads-guilty-civil-rights-charge-violent-arrest-caught-video/
DOJ to conduct review of Indianapolis Police Department surrounding officer involved shootings
AG won’t prosecute LAPD cop who shot an unarmed 14-year-old girl who was hiding with her mom in a dressing room
Member of Mississippi ‘Goon Squad’ files appeal
https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/member-of-mississippi-goon-squad-files-appeal/
Appeals court: New Mexico cops who arrested a citizen journalist for filming a refinery from a public sidewalk and refusing to show ID can be sued
“Officers attorney argued it could have been a trespass; an officer might have reasonably, if mistakenly, thought the sidewalk was private.”
https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/opinions/010111033725.pdf
PA cop accused of raping, inflicting severe injuries to toddler
https://www.abc27.com/local-news/york-county-man-accused-of-raping-inflicting-severe-injuries-to-toddler
$100M lawsuit filed on behalf of woman who died handcuffed in back of sheriff's patrol car
Judge awards $23.5M to undercover cop beaten by colleagues during protest
L.A. cop charged with evidence tampering, stealing property during traffic and pedestrian stops
Sheriff asks appeals court to toss conviction for violating detainees’ civil rights
Conviction for Recording Own Phone Conversation with Deputy Sheriff Overturned
Deputy Accused Of Leaking Homicide Investigation Details To Victim's Husband
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/winter-springs-carjacking-update-march-15
Video shows Miami-Dade Police cruisers apparently racing each other, department promises to investigate
‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson Fires Back at Cops Who Trolled Him Online
https://www.thedailybeast.com/reacher-star-alan-ritchson-fires-back-at-cops-who-trolled-him-online
Report Finds More Mistakes Made Executing Black People Than Other Races
https://www.npr.org/2024/04/18/1245290751/botched-exections-black-race-death-penalty
The Hidden Deaths in American Jails
https://www.vera.org/news/the-hidden-deaths-in-american-jails
New York Jail Throws Man in Solitary for Refusing to Work Without Pay
https://theappeal.org/broome-county-jail-unpaid-labor-lawsuit-solitary/
ACLU sues California Department of State Hospitals over mortality records of mentally ill prisoners
How to Abolish Prisons: Lessons from the Movement Against Imprisonment
https://truthout.org/articles/abolition-is-a-project-of-human-liberation-that-must-be-ongoing/
Millions of NYC jail call recording stored in high-tech system, violating civil liberties suit
https://bds.org/latest/nydn-doc-lawsuit
California women's prison rocked by 'rape club' abuse scandals to be closed
She repeatedly reported a prison guard’s sexual abuse. It took years for officials to believe her
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/apr/11/california-prison-sergeant-sexual-abuse-nilda-palacios
Rikers corrections officer smuggled drugs into jail in issues of ‘Demon Slayer’ manga
https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/04/18/rikers-guard-testifies-he-smuggled-drugs-into-jail-in-issues-of-demon-slayer-manga/
Georgia corrections officer punished for using excessive force, illicit drugs
https://www.kuam.com/story/50678556/depcor-officers-punished-for-using-excessive-force-using-illicit-drugs
How Prison Commissary Price-Gouging Preys on the Incarcerated
https://theappeal.org/locked-in-priced-out-how-much-prison-commissary-prices/