Technocracy

Spy, or pay up: FBI-backed bill would fine US firms for refusing wiretaps

"A US government task force is drafting FBI-backed legislation that would penalize companies like Google and Facebook for refusing to comply with wiretap orders, media report. In the new legislation being drafted by US law enforcement officials, refusal to cooperate with the FBI could cost a tech company tens of thousands of dollars in fines, the Washington Post quoted anonymous sources as saying. The fined company would be given 90 days to comply with wiretap orders. If the organization is unable or unwilling to turn over the communications requested by the wiretap, the penalty sum would double every day." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSpy, or pay up: FBI-backed bill would fine US firms for refusing wiretaps

US Military and Civil Officials Set to Police in Canada

"In the wake of a dramatic RCMP reveal of two people arrested in Canada in connection with a plot to derail a passenger train, Canadians may have questioned why the United States Department of Homeland Security and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation were involved in the operation. Those who have followed the quiet evolution of Canada-US cross-border policing, however, weren't surprised. Law enforcement agencies in Canada and the US are now working together in an unprecedented way, says the RCMP—and the two countries are hammering out a plan to let agents in both countries drive back and forth across the border as though it wasn't there." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Military and Civil Officials Set to Police in Canada

Congress proposes adding $4.5 billion to historic highs spent on border security

"Federal spending on border security is at an all-time high -- and it would get even higher under the Gang of Eight’s new plan. The Senate immigration proposal, released last week, would allocate $4.5 billion in the next five years to tighten control of U.S. borders. The U.S. spent nearly $18 billion dollars on immigration enforcement agencies last fiscal year, more than all other law enforcement agencies combined. The bill requires buying as many drones as needed to have 24/7 surveillance of the Southwest border. The U.S. has already purchased 10 border drones, which cost $18 million a piece and roughly $3,000 an hour to operate." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress proposes adding $4.5 billion to historic highs spent on border security

Connecticut: “No Guns, No Gold”

"You probably know about the gun control bill that was voted into law this month. Gun manufacturers are threatening to move out of the state. The story is here. The state is now about to shut down all coin stores. A bill to require complete record-keeping on all sales, including photos of every coin sold, and recording the ID of every buyer and seller, is about to be passed into law. The cost of complying will shut down the stores." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingConnecticut: “No Guns, No Gold”

Missouri senate votes to stop issuing driver’s licenses after concealed carry records leak

"Missouri state senators on on Monday voted to eliminate all funding for the Department of Revenue’s driver’s license bureau because they were angry about the way the agency was keeping concealed carry gun records. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer (R) said that he had created that draconian cuts to send a message to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration. In addition to $3.5 million of funding for the driver’s license offices, Schaefer is also targeting the Department of Public Safety and computer operations at the state Office of Administration because they had a role in sharing concealed carry records." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMissouri senate votes to stop issuing driver’s licenses after concealed carry records leak

New Jersey Governor Imposes Red Light Camera Freeze

"Chris Christie has gone from red light camera proponent to active photo ticketing opponent in a matter of months. On Thursday, the state Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced there will be no new red light cameras installed in the Garden State with the notice specifically mentioning it was the political decision of the 'Christie Administration.' Less than nine months ago, Christie had backed red light cameras. Data from the first year of camera use show a spike in the number of injury-causing and severe accidents. The results ran counter to the promise that photo ticketing reduces 'more dangerous' angle collisions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Jersey Governor Imposes Red Light Camera Freeze

California: Audit Finds Nearly Non-Existent Yellow At Red Light Camera Intersection

"Red light camera opponents often charge municipalities exploit intersections that have dangerously short yellow times for the purpose of issuing tickets. An outside audit of the Sacramento, California red light camera program confirmed that tickets were issued at an intersection where the yellow warning period on occasion flashed by faster than the eye could see. The Redflex camera system reported seeing yellows as short as 0.056 seconds on July 11, 2012 at around 9:30am. The report also chided officials for not trimming trees when the limbs hide the cameras and legally required warning signs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia: Audit Finds Nearly Non-Existent Yellow At Red Light Camera Intersection

After U.S. Troops Leave, Armed Drones Will Patrol Afghanistan’s Skies

"One of the major elements of Afghanistan’s air war will remain after most U.S. troops have headed home, the U.S. military command confirmed today. Armed drones, operated by the U.S., will remain over Afghanistan after 2014. Western Pakistan, the epicenter of the U.S. drone war from 2009 to 2011, experienced a surge in U.S. drone strikes at the beginning of this year. Those drones are under the control of the CIA, and U.S. military officials believe that’s likely to remain the case even if the Obama administration takes away many of the CIA’s drone operations, since there is no declared U.S. war in Pakistan. Those drones are flown from Afghanistan." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAfter U.S. Troops Leave, Armed Drones Will Patrol Afghanistan’s Skies

Napolitano, Graham: U.S. needs more technological entry and exit controls

"US authorities missed Tsarnaev’s trip because his name was misspelled in the system, possibly on a plane ticket. Napolitano acknowledged 'there was a mismatch there,' adding that an immigration reform bill now under consideration would cut down on such problems by requiring passports to be readable electronically. It was not immediately clear whether Tsarnaev’s departure set off a government alert because he was on a terror watchlist or on a broader, central repository of some 500,000 names, known as the TIDE database, maintained by the National Counterterrorism Center." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNapolitano, Graham: U.S. needs more technological entry and exit controls

Rand Paul: Use Drones To Search Neighboorhoods For Murder Suspects

"Sen. Paul also apparently would not object to using drones domestically in critical police actions: 'If there is a killer on the loose in a neighborhood, I’m not against drones being used to search them.' Paul also said in the Salon article: 'Here’s the distinction, I have never argued against any technology being used against having an imminent threat an act of crime going on…' 'Imminent threats' have a way of breeding like lemmings…." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul: Use Drones To Search Neighboorhoods For Murder Suspects