U.S. News/Police Violence
Law enforcement leaders — sheriffs, captains, lieutenants, chiefs of police are buying and illegally selling firearms
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-selling-restricted-guns-posties/
CA motorcycle cop injured 10 people including a child and 2 seniors after performing a "wheelie" during a parade
The term “popping the clutch” on a motorcycle generally refers to suddenly releasing the clutch lever while providing power to the engine and is often used to rapidly accelerate the motorcycle or to perform wheelies.
The world’s largest investigative journalism network (OCCRP) is secretly controlled by the US govt
"Our investigation reveals that the OCCRP was created thanks to the financial support of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Still today, Washington provides around half of the budget of the OCCRP, and has the power to veto the nomination of “key personnel” in the NGO, including Drew Sullivan."
Where US Troops Are Based Around The World? The Answer: Everywhere
https://www.statista.com/chart/8720/where-us-troops-are-based-around-the-world/
Israel Accused of Violating Lebanon Cease-Fire Deal 'About 100 Times'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-violates-lebanon-cease-fire
Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/
US Response to ICC Netanyahu Warrant Could Deal Death Blow to International Law
Billionaires Subsidize the Israeli Military Through a US Nonprofit
Trump’s ‘Government of Billionaires’ Boasts Combined Wealth Greater Than 169 Countries GDP
Trump 'Border Czar' Threatens States Not Willing To ‘Cooperate’ On Deportations
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-transition-live-updates_n_6733a9c0e4b0745a493c080d/liveblog_67448fede4b03df0865168f7
NYC Mayor Adams says he'd 'love' to meet with incoming Trump border czar
NYC Mayor Eric Adams Vows To Work With Trump On Mass Deportations
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-city-migrant-crimes-eric-adams-tom-homan-donald-trump/
Guess Who Profits From Trump’s Deportation Plan- Private Equity Firms
https://theintercept.com/2024/12/04/trump-mass-deportation-private-equity-prisons/
House blocks release of ethics report on Matt Gaetz
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/us/politics/matt-gaetz-ethics-report-blocked-house.html
Trump’s New Press Secretary Was Paid for Articles Praising a Con Man
Prison appears to be no barrier for Republican county official who won another term
https://apnews.com/article/michigan-official-elected-prison-0e3f227cffc8b783a3c0d8f852fd48b9
Idaho Can Now Arrest People Who Help Kids Get Abortions in Other States
The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday allowed portions of Idaho’s “abortion trafficking” ban to take effect. Now, Idaho may resume criminalizing adults who “harbor or transport” anyone under 18 to get abortions without parental consent. Anyone who breaks the law may be punished by two to five years in state prison.
https://theappeal.org/idaho-abortion-trafficking-ban/
First Amendment Likely Protects Referring Idaho Patients for Out-of-State Abortions
40+ Privacy And Civil Rights Organizations Sign Letter Urging Lawmakers to Denounce Mask Bans
Instead of arrests, could Central Florida turn to homeless court?
Florida troopers helped arrest hundreds of illegal migrants in Texas
California AG Asks Residents To Report State Agencies That Assist Immigration Authorities
"If you believe a state or local law enforcement agency, a public institution or its staff are unlawfully assisting with immigration enforcement, report it to our office at oag.ca.gov/report."
Texas unveils its new border-area ranch, site of proposed deportation detention facility
The Fight to Stop New York Cops From Conspiring With ICE
https://theintercept.com/2024/11/26/the-fight-to-stop-new-york-cops-from-conspiring-with-ice/
ICE wants to reopen office at Rikers Island
You Can’t Do Mass Deportations Without Mass Domestic Surveillance And ICE Is Exploring Its Options
WTF? Court Rules CBP Allowed to Copy Immigration Attorney's Cell Phones Info.
The feds have quietly built surveillance towers along the Canadian border in Vermont, New York
EFF Tells the Appeals Court a Second Time That Electronic Device Searches at the Border Require a Warrant
https://www.eff.org/document/us-v-smith-2d-cir-amicus-brief
The CBP is expanding use of iris scanners
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations conducted a limited iris biometrics field study using three collection methods, including on-the-move, pause-and-look, and kiosks, and opted to only move forward with facial and fingerprint biometrics. CBP no longer collects iris biometrics at POEs,” the CBP spokesperson said.
https://fedscoop.com/customs-and-border-protection-biometric-iris-recognition/
DEA pays airline staff to target innocent travelers
https://papersplease.org/wp/author/ehasbrouck/
The Portland International Airport uses real-time facial recognition to ID passengers
https://www.kval.com/news/local/new-tsa-tech-at-pdx-secures-id-checks-with-real-time-photo-matching
CLEAR Introduces Facial Recognition EnVe Pods To ID Airline Passengers
https://www.clearme.com/blog/how-new-clear-enve-pods-work
BS WARNING- TSA PreCheck vs. Clear: What’s better for price and privacy?
Coalition Urge the White House Office of Management and Budget to Halt DHS’s Harmful AI Systems (Biometrics)
DHS to transfer 300M latent fingerprint records to AWS Cloud
https://sam.gov/opp/8a918c62ba5b4b2a8e9c4e8efb339293/view
FBI Seeks Advanced Fingerprint, Face, and Iris Matching AI to Enhance Next Generation Identification System
https://sam.gov/opp/bbeff9e0a5f447c9904141a0aceb023e/view
The Los Angeles Clippers Intuit Dome uses facial recognition to ID fans in real time
"Concert and sports stadiums across the country are increasingly experimenting with digitizing the customer experience. Many require digital tickets or offer an app to navigate a visit. From New York’s Citi Field to San Diego’s Pechanga Arena, venues are asking visitors to try facial recognition for transactions like ticketing and concessions. But the Intuit Dome is the first to pair the latest in smartphone technology with facial recognition to interact with fans in real time."
https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/kcrw-features/intuit-dome
Almost half of venues see facial recognition as a top initiative for 2025
Flickr Users Advance Google Facial Recognition Privacy Suit Over IBM Photo Database
https://casetext.com/case/vance-v-google-llc-4
Facecheck ID Adds 50K new photos of Missing Persons to its Facial Recognition Database
https://www.openpr.com/news/3757369/facecheck-id-adds-50-000-new-photos-of
FTC Bans IntelliVision From Lying About Being Free From Bias
IDEMIA and CertiPath work together to install facial recognition scanners in federal buildings and military bases
How Much Do I Need to Change My Face to Avoid Facial Recognition?
"Cover the face in cases where that isn’t suspicious, e.g., wear a scarf in the wintertime, sun glasses on a bright day. Hats with wide brims are also a confound, as they can hide the forehead and hair, and cast a shadow on the face. Holding a hand over the face is also good for this. The second step is to look down while in motion so any camera in the vicinity will not capture a good frontal image of the face. Third, if one can move quickly, that might cause motion blur in the captured photo—consider jogging or riding a bike."
https://gizmodo.com/how-much-do-i-need-to-change-my-face-to-avoid-facial-recognition-2000533755
BS WARNING: Do You Need ID To Read The REAL-ID Rules?
As with travel by common carrier, the TSA wants to create the impression that ID is required to read the text of its regulations, and acts in practice as though ID is required, but knows that it would have a hard time defending such a policy in court. So the TSA doesn’t put this policy in writing, and backs down (or at least claims that some alternative, albeit an inconvenient one, is available for people without ID) when confronted with people without ID who it perceives as sufficiently able and willing to assert their rights. In the limited time that I was allowed to spend with these documents, I was able to confirm that they require that mDL credentials be “provisioned” through a TSA-approved app on a TSA-approved device, with that device biometrically “bound” to an individual. The process of “presenting” a digital ID will be a four-way interaction between the individual, the app (it’s unclear whether or how the user will be able to authenticate the app or know what it is doing), functions on the device to collect biometrics (controlled, in all likelihood, by an operating system with root privileges whose actions can’t be monitored or controlled by the individual), and the credential-issuing driver’s license agency.
https://papersplease.org/wp/2024/11/25/do-you-need-id-to-read-the-real-id-rules/
Iowans can now use digital driver’s licenses on mobile app
https://dailyiowan.com/2024/11/20/iowans-can-now-present-drivers-licenses-through-mobile-app/
New Mexico state IDs can now be added to digital wallets
Apple Patents ‘Bodyprint’ CCTV Camera System That IDs People Without Facial Recognition
https://www.gadgets360.com/smart-home/news/apple-patent-security-camera-without-facial-recognition-7117093
DISGUSTED: Dallas cop who blinded a BLM protest in one eye, pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault
Oregon Prison Limits Solitary to 90 Days, BLM Protester in for 250 Days
https://theintercept.com/2024/12/05/blm-george-floyd-prison-solitary-malik-muhammad/
Illinois Students Who Protested Gaza Genocide Are Facing Felony Mob Charges
Bipartisan bill would cut funding to universities that boycott Israel
https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=412059
Police Raid Pro-Palestine Student in FBI-Led Graffiti Investigation
https://theintercept.com/2024/12/03/george-mason-fbi-gaza-palestine-israel/
FTC Says Data Brokers Unlawfully Tracked Protesters
https://www.wired.com/story/ftc-mobilewalla-gravy-analytics-orders/
FBI investigating Verizon’s lobbying firm over hacking activists’ emails
FBI agent arrested, charged with numerous counts of raping women at tattoo studio
FBI Warns Americans to Start Using Encrypted Messaging Apps
https://gizmodo.com/fbi-warns-americans-to-start-using-encrypted-messaging-apps-2000533800
DHS Needs To Address Privacy Issues For 20 Types Of Surveillance (Drones, License Plate Readers, IMSI Catchers, Etc.)
(Page 20)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107302.pdf
Florida Sheriff Admits “Predictive Policing” Program Violated Constitution
"Pasco County Sheriff admits program led to multiple constitutional violations; agrees to six-figure settlement."
Nashville’s Council Rejects Axon's Real-Time ‘Fusus’ Police Surveillance Tool
Manchester, NH police use Fusus Real-Time Crime Center Surveillance
Reminder: Cops Can Point a Camera at Your House 24/7 Without a Warrant
https://gizmodo.com/reminder-cops-can-point-a-camera-at-your-house-24-7-without-a-warrant-2000533762
The Future of Online Privacy Hinges on Thousands of New Jersey Cops
https://www.wired.com/story/daniels-law-new-jersey-online-privacy-matt-adkisson-atlas-lawsuits/
Feds Say Evolv Is Over-Hyping AI Tech in Gun Detectors
https://gizmodo.com/feds-say-evolv-is-over-hyping-ai-tech-in-gun-detectors-2000530288
The NYPD’s Expensive ShotSpotter Is Almost Completely Useless
https://therecord.media/police-shotspotter-inaccurate-new-york
Niagara County Sheriff's Install Iris Scanners In Patrol Cars
Republican Wants North Dakota Taxpayers To Pay $15M To Replace Chines-Made Police Drones Across The State
Cleveland police agree not use drones to spy on protestors and large crowds, except under "legitimate law enforcement uses"
Even Consent Decrees Can't Stop Police Spying: Commissioners removed language that would have allowed drone surveillance of large gatherings or crowds, such as protests. Using the devices for harassment or intimidation of individuals or groups, or to control crowds, would also be prohibited. However, the final version would permit “additional legitimate law enforcement uses not listed,” so long as they do not violate the Fourth Amendment’s privacy protections.
https://www.clevescene.com/news/cleveland-police-drone-policy-takes-flight-45633737
Syracuse police to bypass surveillance technology review process to start “drone as first responder” program
Palm Springs Call Drones As First Responder, First Responder 2.0 After Chula Vista Drone Program
"Chula Vista is 1.0. They had visual observers on the roof,” Palm Springs Police Lt. William Hutchinson said. Instead, Palm Springs is patterning its DFR program on that of the northern California city of Campbell, outside of San Jose, which recently announced the use of optical and radar sensors to gain FAA approval for BVLOS operations.
Montgomery County first responder drones expands to Bethesda
Prosper police purchase Flock Safety drone as a first responder
Columbus police allegedly use first responder drones to deliver defibrillators, Narcan and water (but not spying)
https://www.wrbl.com/news/local-news/columbus-police-unveil-first-responder-drone-technology/
Burnet police uses laser-equipped drones to allegedly detect drugs
https://www.kxan.com/burnet-county/burnet-police-using-new-drones-drug-detectors-to-fight-crime/
Sacramento police use drones as a first responder to allegedly improve emergency response times
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/sacramento-police-drone-program-improve-response/
Cleveland Community Police Commission approves drones
Redmond police ecstatic over decision to allow BVLOS drones
Public Surveillance Warning: MTA Considers Flying Drones to Keep Watch Over Buses
https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/11/27/mta-considers-flying-drones-over-buses/
Bank Closures Reveal Vast Federal Surveillance Program
"Imagine: You go to withdraw cash, but the ATM denies your request. When you check your app, it shows your accounts are frozen. Even your credit cards have stopped working. You have been financially cut off, without warning or explanation. This is called de-banking, and it's far more common than you might think. Bryan Delany’s experience shows what the feds deem “suspicious” has expanded over the years to become staggeringly broad. It now can include: Regular cash deposits or withdrawals; Transactions just under $10,000; Overseas transfers; Donations to controversial organizations; Purchases at gun shops; or Shopping at stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods or Cabela’s."
https://ij.org/bank-closure-federal-surveillance-program/
Texas judge blocks anti-money laundering law's enforcement nationwide
"A federal judge in Texas has issued a nationwide injunction blocking the enforcement of an anti-money laundering law that requires corporate entities to disclose to the U.S. Treasury Department the identities of their real beneficial owners."
PPSA Sues After DOJ Stonewalls and FBI Responds to FOIA with a “Scavenger Hunt”
Sen. Wyden revealed that the Homeland Security Investigations unit of the Homeland Security Department fired off administrative subpoenas to acquire millions of financial records from wire-money transfers. In this way, the government got its hands on millions of financial records, complete with personal information, that included money transfers between Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. “It is likely that in most cases, they are seeking bulk data of millions of innocent Americans to sift through, rather than targeted data against an individual based on probable cause,” said Gene Schaerr, PPSA general counsel. “It is hard to think of a more direct violation of the Fourth Amendment.”
You’d Better Watch Out: The Surveillance State Is Making a List, and You’re On It
https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/surveillance_state_is_making_a_list_and_youre_on_it
Police Violence
Federal Bureau of Prisons to close a "rape club" women's prison after years of abuse and deactivate six prison camps
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is more concerned about laying of employees responsible for abusing inmates
“The closure of these facilities and likely loss of so many skilled and dedicated workers will exacerbate the existing staffing crisis within [BOP], making our prisons less safe for staff, inmates and the surrounding communities,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said.
Civil Rights Groups Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down "Moment of Threat" Doctrine That Encourages Police To Harm Black People
SHAMEFUL- Inside the Supreme Court Justices’ Ethics Debate
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/us/supreme-court-ethics-rules.html
Life Tenure for Supreme Court Justices Is a Global Oddity with Clear Costs
DISGUSTED: SCOTUS refuses to hear the case of woman whose home was destroyed by SWAT team
Mass. Supreme Court Tosses Warrantless Secret Boston Police Video Recording
https://commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/sjc-tosses-warrantless-secret-video-recording/
Second judge revokes decision to create judicial vacancy after Trump's win
Conflict for prosecutors in NH Justice Hantz Marconi's case?
NH Supreme Court Keeps One Cop On The Laurie List While Letting Another Off
First Amendment case against San Francisco DA will finally proceed
How Do We Stop Deepfakes From Tricking Juries?
"Judges and legal scholars worry that AI-generated evidence, or false claims about AI-generated evidence, will derail and prolong cases."
https://gizmodo.com/how-to-we-stop-deepfakes-from-tricking-juries-2000521201
A Timeline of Failed Efforts to Reform Idaho’s Coroner System
https://www.propublica.org/article/idaho-coroner-reform-timeline
DC Cop was ‘Double Agent’ for Proud Boys; Exchanged Hundreds of Messages
Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio denies communications with DC cop
Memphis Police Used Excessive Force and Discriminated Against Black Residents
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/us/politics/memphis-police-justice-department-report.html
No immunity for Oklahoma City cop who shot 14-year-old
https://www.courthousenews.com/no-immunity-for-oklahoma-city-officer-who-shot-14-year-old/
Kansas detective accused of sexually assaulting Black women is dead
The family of a man killed by Las Vegas cop want him fired
https://nevadacurrent.com/2024/11/27/community-continues-calls-for-charges-against-officer-who-fatally-shot-victim-of-home-invasion/
Man shot, killed by Las Vegas cop called 911 the night before
https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/11/22/man-shot-killed-by-las-vegas-police-called-911-night-before/
LA cop sentenced to one year in prison for beating a man with a baton 45 times in 45 seconds
Liverpool Twp. police chief arrested for domestic violence
Springfield assistant chief of police accused of indecent behavior with juvenile
Walbridge cop indicted on child porn counts
https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2024/12/05/former-walbridge-police-officer-indicted-child-porn-counts-felony-counts-ottawa/stories/20241205125
TN deputy arrested for possessing child porn and texting a minor
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/dec/05/hamilton-county-deputy-arrested-on-child-porn/
University of Tennessee cop, arrested for Peeping Tom, stalking
NYPD cops who nearly killed man during mental breakdown should be fired
Veteran NYPD detective accused of stashing ‘small army’s worth’ of weapons in his home, making ghost guns
Report blasts secretive NYPD unit aimed at quality of life issues
https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/11/26/nypd-community-response-team-vehicle-pursuits/
Bogus traffic citations against Dolphins' Tyreek Hill dismissed after officers no-show at hearing
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/dolphins-tyreek-hill-traffic-stop-citations-dismissed/
Innocent driver and passenger killed during police car crash was allegedly drunk
Officer James Burke, who was driving the patrol car, was charged with manslaughter after allegedly speeding without lights and sirens when he hit the SUV. Cedric Hayden Jr., and Dejuan Pettis were killed in the crash. Burke’s partner was injured. Burke was allegedly responding to a “Be on the lookout call” for a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee when he crashed at a high speed into Hayden and Pettis, who were turning down the street to go home.
No immunity for CA cops who killed man during attempted stop
https://www.courthousenews.com/no-immunity-for-bay-area-cops-who-killed-man-during-attempted-stop/
Oklahoma police union upset about officer being charged for slamming 71-year-old man to the ground
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/06/us/oklahoma-officer-charged-joseph-gibson/index.html
Oklahoma City Cop Arrested, Accused Of Rape In Canadian County
Off-duty Edmond cop arrested in Lynnwood for flashing gun at driver
Off-duty Edmonds cop arrested following road rage incident
Brooksville cop arrested for marijuana possession, speeding and no auto insurance
Gillette Cop Faces Felony Charge For Having Sex With Woman On Probation
DNA analysis is less accurate for certain groups of people
"The accuracy of DNA mixture analysis really varies by genetic ancestry,” Rohlfs said. “Groups with less diverse genetic variants are going to have higher false inclusion rates for DNA mixture analysis, and this gets worse when you have more contributors” Data science professor Rori Rohlfs said. “The accuracy of DNA mixture analysis really varies by genetic ancestry. Groups with less diverse genetic variants are going to have higher false inclusion rates for DNA mixture analysis, and this gets worse when you have more contributors,” she said.
https://news.uoregon.edu/limits-forensic-dna-analysis
A Mass. man wrongfully convicted of murder was awarded $13M. He won't get all of it
Wrongfully Convicted Man Wants Justice from Spokane, WA Police
https://theappeal.org/wrongfully-convicted-gregory-sharkey-spokane-washington/
Freedom is permanent for Missourian described as the longest-held wrongly incarcerated woman in US
Mass Puppycide Ends Career Of Tennessee Deputy Who Probably Never Should Have Been A Cop
Indianapolis Family Jewelry Business Will Get Back $42K Illegally Seized By Police At FedEx Hub
Illinois’ AG Said It’s Illegal for Schools to Use Cops to Ticket Students. But His Office Told Only One District
LDF Brief On Officers Qualified Immunity Following Invasive Strip Search of Prison Visitor
Judge holds NYC in contempt over worsening conditions on Rikers, says federal takeover likely
Why is anyone surprised when a former NYPD cop became mayor and nothing changed?
Judge Pushes for Receiver Takeover of Rikers Island
https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/11/27/federal-judge-orders-rikers-receiver/
Regulator Sues Anti-Police Activist Who Spent Charity Funds on Himself
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/us/brandon-anderson-raheem-ai.html
Incarceration Should Not be a Death Sentence for Individuals Who Use Opioids