Police State

Seattle Police Department publishes how-to guide for smoking pot legally

"The Seattle Police Department on Friday published a how-to guide that explains the do’s and don’ts of marijuana legalization in the state. Written by a former writer for The Stranger, an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, readers might never guess it’s an official publication of the police department were it not for the .gov web domain. Despite the unprecedented nature of a major city’s police department releasing such a thing, it went completely under the radar until Thursday, when The Associated Press picked it up first." Continue reading →

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Canada: Privacy Commissioner Blasts License Plate Readers

"Commissioner Elizabeth Denham opened her inquiry after receiving a number of requests from concerned members of the public. She focused on determining whether use of cameras to track and store license plate data from all passing vehicles, even when their occupants were not suspected of any crime, was permissible under Canada's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)." Continue reading →

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Maker of Airport Body Scanners Suspected of Falsifying Software Tests

"A company that supplies controversial passenger-screening machines for U.S. airports is under suspicion for possibly manipulating tests on privacy software designed to prevent the machines from producing graphic body images. The TSA sent a letter Nov. 9 to the parent company of Rapiscan, the maker of backscatter machines, requesting information about the testing of the software to determine if there was malfeasance. The company previously had problems with a 'calculation error' in safety tests that showed the machines were emitting radiation levels that were 10 times higher than expected." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMaker of Airport Body Scanners Suspected of Falsifying Software Tests

Google report reveals world government requests for private data rising sharply

"Government surveillance of their citizens’ online lives is rising sharply around the world, according to Google’s latest report. The US accounted for the most requests, as it has consistently since the report was launched. US authorities asked for private details of Google users on 7,969 occasions, up from 6,321 in the last reporting period. The number is more than a third of the 20,938 requests for users’ details worldwide. Google fully or partially complied with 90% of those requests. Over the six months, Google was asked to remove seven YouTube videos criticising local and state agencies, police and other public officials." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle report reveals world government requests for private data rising sharply

Obama’s ‘secret’ cyber security law may allow ‘military deployment within the U.S.’

"The FOIA was filed in response to an article that appeared in The Washington Post this week, claiming that Obama issued a secret directive shortly before the elections that empowers the military to 'vet any operations outside government and defense networks' for cyber security purposes. However, because the exact text of the directive remains a secret, nobody can really say exactly what it does. That was somewhat disconcerting to American Civil Liberties Union legislative counsel Michelle Richardson, who told Raw Story on Wednesday that without the text, 'it’s hard to see what they mean.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama’s ‘secret’ cyber security law may allow ‘military deployment within the U.S.’

Police Taser Homeowner For Trying To Save Burning House With Garden Hose

"The 42-year-old commercial fisherman is still struggling to comprehend exactly how things deteriorated so quickly Thursday. He said he doesn’t understand why police shot him with a Taser that night as he tried to battle a house fire at 3420 Beechwood Ter. N. Jensen’s family, friends and neighbors have been quick to defend him and accuse police of crossing a line." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Taser Homeowner For Trying To Save Burning House With Garden Hose

Ron Paul and Barney Frank tell Obama: Respect state marijuana laws

"Reps. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Barney Frank (D-MA) on Thursday called for the Obama administration to respect state marijuana laws, as California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) did on Sunday. Voters in Colorado and Washington state both approved referenda legalizing the limited recreational use of marijuana. However, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration still classifies marijuana as a schedule I drug: the most restrictive classification, reserved drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medicinal value." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul and Barney Frank tell Obama: Respect state marijuana laws

City Of Orlando Orders Man To Dig Up Vegetable Garden

"The city of Orlando has ordered a College Park man to get rid of the vegetable garden in his front yard, calling it a code violation. Jason Helvenston said he never dreamed his garden would get him in trouble, and he is refusing to get rid of it. He said the garden saves his household hundreds of dollars in groceries, and it’s a source of pride. The city left a notice on Helvenston’s door saying the garden showed 'failure to maintain ground covers.' The notice said to dig up the garden by Nov. 7 or actions would be taken." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCity Of Orlando Orders Man To Dig Up Vegetable Garden

Police In ‘Riot Gear’ Raid Poker Game With $0 Buy-In, Organizers Arrested

"State and local authorities raided a monthly poker tournament at a bar in the city of Largo, after an investigation into unlawful gambling. The Nutz Poker League, which was running a free game open to the public at Louie’s Grill and Sports Bar at the time of the crackdown, said on its Facebook page that some of the police were in 'full riot gear' and had their 'weapons drawn.' Felony charges have been filed, according to the league. Under Florida law, the felonies would be in the third degree and could carry a prison sentence of up to five years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice In ‘Riot Gear’ Raid Poker Game With $0 Buy-In, Organizers Arrested

RIAA Celebrates 15 Year Jail Sentence For Movie and Music Pirate

"The RIAA has welcomed a mind-boggling jail sentence handed to a man who sold pirated movies and music. The 37-year-old man pleaded guilty to six felony counts of selling counterfeit media after he sold five movies and one music CD to an undercover investigator without the permission of copyright holders. As a result he will go to jail in Mississippi for 15 years to be followed by three years of supervised release." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRIAA Celebrates 15 Year Jail Sentence For Movie and Music Pirate