The NSA uses AT&T facilities in at least eight cities to warrantlessly monitor and collect billions of emails, phone calls, and online chats passing across the United States. According to a report published by The Intercept based on documents it obtained, the NSA has direct access to network hubs that run through buildings known as “backbone” and…
I fought city hall and by-gosh I won! Last October, the city of Lexington sued me in an attempt to keep its “mobile surveillance cameras” secret. In a major victory for government transparency, Fayette Circuit Judge John Reynolds issued an order granting my appeal for summary judgment last week. In simple terms, the judge rejected…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 20, 2018) – Yesterday, a California Assembly committee passed a bill that would increase oversight and transparency of law enforcement surveillance technology. Passage of the bill would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance state.…
Michael Boldin and Michael Maharrey talk about how the feds have actually expanded the unconstitutional surveillance state since the Edward Snowden revelations, and how states are fighting back against Big Brother.
LANSING, Mich. (June 17, 2018) – A new law banning “material support or resources” for warrantless federal surveillance programs went into effect in Michigan. This is an essential step every state needs to take at a time when the federal government seems unlikely to ever end unconstitutional spying on its own. Rep. Martin Howrylak (R-Troy) introduced…
After an outcry over reports that law enforcement agencies are using facial recognition technology marketed by Amazon to profile people in real time, the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) released a letter claiming that Amazon’s Rekognition technology was “patriotic and can benefit society.” “Facial recognition technology has many beneficial uses for society, even when used by…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 6, 2018) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill making changes to the state’s laws on drone surveillance. The new law tightens up some aspects of the current law, but relaxes provisions relating to data retention. Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Brentwood) sponsored Senate Bill 1993 (SB1993). The legislation revises the Freedom from…
In this episode, Boldin and Maharrey talk about how the federal government is expanding the surveillance state, and how privacy localism can help stop it. They also report on a number of other state bills that have passed in recent weeks.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 1, 2018) – Yesterday, the California Senate passed a bill that would increase oversight and transparency of law enforcement surveillance technology. Passage of the bill would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance state. Sen.…
The federal government is building a massive surveillance network on America’s transportation system with help from state and local governments. I recently appeared on InfoWars Real News with David Knight to talk about it. David and I discussed the installation of nearly 100 cameras along a transit route in Richmond, Va., and how it is part…