Foreign-Influenced Corporate Money in State Elections (CO, MI, MN, MT, NY and WA)
"The top 33 foreign-influenced companies gave at least $1 million each across the six states, collectively accounting for about $134.0 million in giving between the 2018 and 2022 election cycles. At least 800 companies with over 5% aggregate foreign ownership or an individual foreign owner over 1% collectively gave those committees tens of millions of dollars across the six states."
https://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/foreign-influenced-corporate-money
The U.S. Navy Essentially Lost A Battle In The Red Sea This Week
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/united-states-navy-essentially-lost-battle-sea-yesterday
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Business/wireStory/missiles-targeting-ship-off-yemen-explode-damage-uk-106702760
Border Patrol agents allowed to remove razor wire installed by Texas National Guard at Mexico border
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/22/supreme-court-texas-biden-border-razor-wire/
Both Parties Have Turned the Border Wall Into a Death Trap
https://truthout.org/articles/both-parties-have-turned-the-border-wall-into-a-death-trap/
Trump's Demand for Absolute Immunity Goes Far Beyond the Qualified Immunity Cops Get
6 Attorneys Claim DOJ Seeking Retribution Against Journalist For Recent Jan. 6 Coverage
Watchlisted: You’re Probably Already on a Government Extremism List
https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/watchlisted_youre_probably_already_on_a_government_extremism_list
What’s Hiding in the Immigration & Border Deal? More Mass Surveillance
DHS focused on ‘liveness’ detection of digital IDs
https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2024/01/23/dhs-st-announces-track-3-remote-identity-validation-tech-demo-challenge
Will TSA Steal Your Mug? (CLEAR Facial Recognition)
https://ronpaulinstitute.org/will-tsa-steal-your-mug/
Man says facial recognition led to his false arrest, imprisonment, rape in jail
Man sues Macy’s over wrongful facial recognition ID
The FBI wants to use Amazon Rekognition (facial recognition)
https://fedscoop.com/doj-fbi-amazon-rekognition-technology-ai-use-case/
Benton sheriff wants to use controversial Clearview AI photo search
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/crime/article284409190.html
Experts urge Congress to help set standards, increase transparency of AI-assisted law enforcement
Artificial intelligence is quickly pushing its way into police organizations across the country via tools such as facial recognition and gunshot detection programs. AI can also help augment existing human-led law enforcement activities like social media monitoring.
https://www.courthousenews.com/experts-urge-congress-to-help-set-standards-increase-transparency-of-ai-assisted-law-enforcement/
Illinois Court Partially Dismisses Class Action Privacy Claims Involving “Eufy” Facial Recognition Security Cameras
Olea Kiosks to use HID facial recognition to ID retail customers
Is Facial Recognition a Useful Public Safety Tool or Something Sinister?
https://reason.com/2024/01/23/beyond-your-papers-please/
Qualcomm and Daon use vehicle biometrics to create next-generation auto insurance
A drug test cost a DEA agent his job. He sued and got it back
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/us/cannabis-dea-drug-test.html
Appeals Court: FBI's Safe-Deposit Box Seizures Violated Fourth Amendment
https://reason.com/2024/01/23/appeals-court-fbis-safe-deposit-box-seizures-violated-fourth-amendment/
https://www.courthousenews.com/fbi-breached-search-privacy-rights-during-safe-deposit-box-seizure-at-self-storage-facility/
Judge condemns FBI while ordering release of man in 'Newburgh Four' case
"The three men were recruited so that James Cromitie could conspire with someone," the judge said. "The real lead conspirator was the United States. .... The FBI invented the conspiracy; identified the targets; manufactured the ordnance."
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-condemns-fbi-while-ordering-release-man-newburgh-four-case-2024-01-20/
The Judges Who Ruled Against La Gordiloca Are Criminalizing Watchdog Journalism
https://www.texasobserver.org/priscilla-villarreal-journalist-la-gordiloca-fifth-circuit/
Intelligence Community's False Claims About the Protect Liberty Act
"The Protect Liberty Act allows the FBI to conduct U.S. person queries if it has either a warrant from a regular federal court or a probable cause order from the FISA Court, where judges have high-level security clearances. The FBI will determine which type of court order is appropriate in each case."
https://www.protectprivacynow.org/news/myths-v-facts-ics-false-claims-about-the-protect-liberty-act
Congress pits privacy against intelligence as it ponders surveillance renewal
https://rollcall.com/2024/01/23/congress-pits-privacy-against-intelligence-as-it-ponders-surveillance-renewal
NSA secretly buying Americans’ data without a warrant
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jan/25/nsa-secretly-buying-americans-data-without-warrant/
NSA purchase of Americans’ personal data from brokers is illegal, senator says
https://therecord.media/nsa-purchases-american-personal-data-from-brokers-wyden
Seattle Pays 2020 BLM Protesters $10M Over 'Excessive Force' Claims
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/city-of-seattle-settles-blm-protesters-lawsuit-for-10-million/
LAPD Raided Home Of BLM Attorney And Took Unlawful Photos, Raising Concerns Of A Harassment Campaign
I Got Arrested for Protesting and I Would Do It Again
https://fordhamobserver.com/75382/opinions/i-got-arrested-for-protesting-and-i-would-do-it-again/
NYPD investigating claims that protesters at Columbia were hit with 'skunk spray'
https://gothamist.com/news/nypd-investigating-pro-palestinian-protesters-at-columbia-who-say-they-were-hit-with-skunk-spray
A new Supreme Court case threatens to take away your right to protest
DISGUSTED: Georgia GOP Proposes RICO Expansion for “Loitering” Protesters
The proposed law would include low-level misdemeanors, such as “loitering” and placing posters in unpermitted places, as crimes to which RICO charges and hefty enhanced penalties could apply. The bill also includes “political affiliation or belief” as a factor for enhanced penalties in certain circumstances.
https://theintercept.com/2024/01/22/georgia-rico-cop-city/
Boston City Council blocks action on $13M anti-terror grant … again
https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/01/24/boston-city-council-blocks-action-on-13m-anti-terror-grant-again/
Reassessing Privacy’s Dominance in the Fourth Amendment
https://ij.org/cje-post/security-in-the-spotlight-reassessing-privacys-dominance-in-the-fourth-amendment/
EPIC Calls On DOJ and DHS to Create Robust Framework of Safeguards for Surveillance Tech
"EPIC urges the DOJ and DHS to center vulnerable communities in its crafting of new guidance on the use of facial recognition, predictive policing technologies, social media surveillance tools, and DNA analysis tools."
https://epic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EPIC-DOJDHS-Comment-LE-Tech-011924.pdf
Ring will no longer allow police to request doorbell camera footage from users
https://apnews.com/article/ring-amazon-camera-police-request-56a128dcd77a4cb0b27d71be9384fe1a
New book anticipates a world of military robots, and the need to regulate them
https://phys.org/news/2023-12-world-military-robots.html
Unnamed Houston real estate brokerage and property management firm use 2 Knightscope robots to ID tenants and visitors
https://ir.knightscope.com/news-releases/news-release-details/two-new-knightscope-security-robots-now-protecting-houston
CISA, FBI release cybersecurity guidance covering Chinese-made drones
https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/Cybersecurity%20Guidance%20Chinese-Manufactured%20UAS.pdf
San Francisco Mayor Breed’s Proposition E (SFPD Drone) Seems To Violate State Law
https://oaklandprivacy.org/london-breeds-prop-e-may-violate-state-law/
DISGUSTED: Chula Vista asks state Supreme Court to weigh in on whether drone footage can be kept secret
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2024-01-18/chula-vista-state-supreme-court-drone-petition
Murrieta police utilizing new fleet of thermal-imaging drones to allegedly combat crime
"As of now, the department has five sworn members who work as pilots of the drones on a 24-7 basis. They plan to expand the program even further in 2024."
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/murrieta-police-utilizing-new-fleet-of-drones-to-combat-crime/
Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office purchases thermal-imaging drone
https://www.katc.com/evangeline-parish/evangeline-parish-sheriffs-office-receives-new-drone
Blaine Police Department purchases thermal imaging drone
"The drone has helped find fleeing suspects, locate trespassers on BNSF Railway tracks."
https://www.thenorthernlight.com/stories/blaine-police-department-launches-new-drone,30066
Hutto police use thermal-imaging drone to catch a suspect
https://news.yahoo.com/video-hutto-police-catch-suspect-034839494.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
Frisco police to purchase two surveillance drones
"What are the police drones used for? The police drones will provide valuable services to the police in critical operations such as surveillance, search and rescue and crime scene investigation."
https://infoarnold.biz.id/the-frisco-city-council-approves-1-9-million-in-upgrades-to-the-police-department/
Montgomery County Police Department's Drone as First Responder Program
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/new-drone-video-shows-montgomery-county-police-fighting-crime-in-real-time
Police1 and FireRescue1 partner with DRONERESPONDERS
https://www.police1.com/lexipol-media-group-partners-with-droneresponders-to-enhance-public-safety-through-drone-technology
Uniform Sierra Aerospace launches its Panther outdoor tactical UAS for law enforcement
“Panther’s sensor package is mechanically stabilized and includes both a 40x zoom camera and a thermal camera, which allows operators to conduct searches and observations at long ranges and high speeds,” CEO DuncanMulgrew said.
https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2024/Q1/uniform-sierra-aerospace-launches-its-panther-outdoor-tactical-uas.html
Volarious The Future of Big Events Monitoring: Introducing Sentry Mode
https://www.volarious.com/blog-tethered-drone/the-future-of-big-events-monitoring-introducing-sentry-mode
Is drone surveying protected speech? Appeals Court will decide
https://www.courthousenews.com/is-drone-surveying-protected-speech-the-fourth-circuit-will-decide/
Police Violence
How the Supreme Court gave police cover for home raids gone wrong
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/supreme-court-gave-police-cover-raids-gone-wrong-rcna135100
Study Shows Throwing Money At Law Enforcement Doesn’t Result In Lower Crime Rates
Mass. Supreme Court: DA's have an “inescapable constitutional duty” to disclose Springfield cops using excessive force, lying and withholding exculpatory evidence
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2024/01/23/f13386.pdf
Institute for Justice's Amicus Brief
https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023.08.23-Institute-for-Justice-Amicus-Brief-1.pdf
Florida Bills Would Hide the Names of Cops Who Kill People
https://reason.com/2024/01/26/florida-bills-would-hide-the-names-of-police-officers-who-kill-people/
Vermont prosecutor charged with DUI, showed up impaired at crime scene investigation
https://vtdigger.org/2024/01/26/addison-county-states-attorney-charged-with-dui-after-allegedly-showing-up-impaired-at-crime-scene-investigation/
Supreme Court clerks are offered bonuses of up to $500,000 to join law firms
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/25/supreme-court-clerks-bonuses-law-firms/
Appeals court: Wisconsin police K-9 searches of vehicles require a warrant
"We conclude that both of the canine’s entries into Campbell’s vehicle constituted searches under the Fourth Amendment. Therefore, the State was required to either obtain a warrant prior to the searches or rely upon an exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement in order to justify the warrantless searches."
https://webservices.courthousenews.com/sites/Data/AppellateOpinionUploads/2024-24-1--12-50-57-20ap1813-cr[12].pdf
Exposing a Broken Juvenile Court System
https://reason.com/2024/01/26/the-kids-of-rutherford-county/
Texas cops who arrested a citizen journalist cannot be sued because no precedent gave the defendants fair notice that their conduct violates the Constitution
https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/20/20-40359-CV3.pdf
Appeals court: White cop should go to trial for murdering unarmed Black motorist
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2024/01/25/patrick-lyoya-shooting-christopher-schurr-grand-rapids-police-officer-trial/72351672007/
Ricky Cobb’s Mother Rips Minnesota Trooper Charged With Murdering Her Black Son
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/ricky-cobb-iis-family-responds-after-state-trooper-charged-in-shooting-death/
Cop Used Leg Sweep Maneuver to Take Down a Black 62-Year-Old Deacon Before Taser Death
https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/01/24/family-of-johnny-hollman-files-lawsuit-against-city-of-atlanta-ex-cop-involved-in-deacons-needless-and-wrongful-death/
State lawmaker pushes to ban hog-tying by police following Manuel Ellis' death
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/washington-state-lawmaker-pushes-ban-hog-tying-police-106556688
Police In A Small Mississippi Town Brutalized Its Black Population
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lexington-police-lawsuit-racism-abuse_n_65b2de26e4b014b873b089be
Police Tased 14-Year Old Autistic Black Boy After Mistaking Him For Suspect
https://www.blackenterprise.com/illinois-police-tased-14-year-old-autistic-black-boy/
Seattle Police Dept brass recommend officer's firing or suspension over 'horrific' comments
More homophobic, racist text messages from San Jose cops released
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/big-time-gay-more-homophobic-racist-text-messages-from-police-officers-released/
Long Beach police pay cancer patient $300K after cops kneed him in the groin 3 times
Prosecutors decline charges against 4 Park Police officers in death following chase
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/23/james-herndon-park-police-crash/
Appeals court: Dallas bar patron who fell and broke his wrist after a cop punched him in the face cannot sue
https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/22/22-10783.0.pdf
Bexar County Civil Rights Division has taken three cops to court so far. The cases all ended in mistrials
https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/bexar-county-civil-rights-division-taken-three-officers-to-court-cases-all-ended-in-mistrials/273-aca83c2a-1a85-45d5-964e-8cd158e0bb39
How Chicago Became an Unlikely Leader in Police Body-Camera Transparency
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-chicago-became-leader-body-camera-transparency-police
21 Bodycam Videos Caught the NYPD Wrongly Arresting Black Kids. Why Can’t the Public See the Footage?
https://www.propublica.org/article/police-body-worn-cameras-no-transparency
NYPD cop indicted for throwing a picnic cooler at man’s head as he tried to flee on moped, killing him
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nypd-sergeant-erik-duran-indicted-bronx-scooter-death/5066289/
NYPD detective sues Civilian Complaint Review Board for painting him as ‘racist’ after pointing gun at Black teen
NYPD recruit arrested for trying to pick up prostitute during open-air sex market crackdown
https://nypost.com/2024/01/25/metro/nypd-recruit-busted-for-trying-to-pick-up-prostitute-sources/
Cop pleads guilty to kidnapping woman after alleged sexual assault while on-duty
MA police sgt. could be fired for not reporting rape allegations against deputy chief
Denver cop never tested for DUI despite being ejected from vehicle
"It was 2 a.m. when witnesses saw Denver Police Officer Chris Maroney lose control of his personal vehicle, pop a curb at 160 N. Monaco St. and crash through four residential yards before his car came to a stop in the front yard of 220 N. Monaco St. The debris field measured 730 feet."
https://kdvr.com/news/problem-solvers/denver-cop-never-tested-for-dui-despite-ejection-from-2-a-m-high-speed-crash
Sheriff fatally shoots himself in restaurant bathroom
CT corrections officer charged with murder after firing more than dozen rounds in road-rage incident
Corrections officer to admit guilt in prison contraband case
Prisoner begged to go to the hospital; instead, was given antacid
Opioid distributors look to dodge public nuisance claims at appeals court
https://www.courthousenews.com/fourth-circuit-hears-opioid-distributor-public-nuisance-case/