State and Local Police Enabling FBI to Create Massive Iris Scan Database

An FBI program to collect iris scans and create a searchable database demonstrates how local law enforcement enables the federal surveillance state. According to documents uncovered by The Verge, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department has collected at least 200,000 iris scans and submitted them to the FBI over the last two and a half years.…

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Gun-Grabbers to the Left of Me, Voyeurs to the Right

I’ve got gun grabbers to the left of me, voyeurs to the right. In the wake of the Orlando shooting, politicos of both the Republican and Democratic persuasion scrambled to apply Rahm Emanuel’s salient advice. “Never let a crisis go to waste.” Right wingers filled my Facebook newsfeed with complaints about the lefty gun-grabbers exploiting…

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New York Electronic Communications Privacy Act Passed by Committee

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 16, 2016) – A New York Assembly committee has passed an electronic data protection bill that would end warrantless collection of cell phone data and ban the use “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations. Passage of the bill would not…

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California County Passes Ordinance Taking on the Surveillance State

San Jose, Calif. (June 9, 2016) – On Wednesday, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a surveillance technology ordinance that sets the stage to limit the acquisition and use of spy gear by law enforcement and other county agencies. It also highlights a strategy that can be used to take on federal surveillance…

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Facial Recognition Software: Technology to Make Big Brother Drool

Government access to biometric data is rapidly expanding, with millions of Americans already in the system. These growing databases, primarily driven by federal policy, pose significant privacy issues. With simple snap of a photo from a police officer using an iPhone app can search through driver’s license to identify you. Now, facial recognition technology has…

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Michigan Bill Takes on Warrantless Stingray Spying; Would Also Hinder Some Federal Surveillance

LANSING, Mich. (Jun. 6, 2016) – A bill introduced recently in the Michigan House would end warrantless collection of cell phone data and ban the use “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in Michigan,…

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Signed by the Governor: New Louisiana Law Takes on Stingray Spying; Will Hinder Federal Surveillance Program

BATON ROUGE, La. (June 6, 2016) – Last week, Louisiana Gov. John Bell Edwards signed a bill into law that requires a court order for the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications. The new law will not only protect privacy in the state, but will also hinder…

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