Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Using Your Brain
This week, we discuss wishes made for better privacy, god complexes, and the point of it all.
Impact
Lawmakers Demand DHS Define ‘Domestic Terrorist’ As It Uses Vast Array of Surveillance Tools
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson and a host of other Democrats made the demand in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “Your actions are abhorrent, blatantly unconstitutional, and corrosive to the functioning of a
peaceful society.”
transparency
The Government Just Made it Harder to See What Spy Tech it Buys
On Wednesday, the government stopped supporting FPDS.gov, an indispensable resource for finding what ICE, the FBI, and every other agency is buying. Its replacement site completely sucks.
Podcast
Podcast: Ring Is Just Getting Started
A leaked Ring email; looksmaxxing; and another Grok screwup.
Privacy
This App Warns You if Someone Is Wearing Smart Glasses Nearby
The creator of Nearby Glasses made the app after reading 404 Media's coverage of how people are using Meta's Ray-Bans smartglasses to film people without their knowledge or consent. “I consider it to be a tiny part of resistance against surveillance tech.”
ICE
How ICE and CBP Use Free Walkie-Talkie App ‘Zello’ to Power Their Operations
404 Media found multiple users of Zello, an app previously used by January 6 insurrectionists, linked to ICE officials. An officer at the scene of an CBP official shooting a U.S. citizen also used the app.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Nothing to Hide Here
This week, we discuss parenting blogs, Pinterest sawing its own legs off, and legal guardrails.
palantir
Palantir, Which Is Powering ICE, Says Immigration Crackdown May Hurt Hiring
Regulation of immigration or work visas means "it could be more difficult to staff our personnel on customer engagements and could increase our costs," Palantir wrote.
Podcast
Podcast: Inside an AI-Powered School
We got leaked documents about Alpha School. We also talk about what happens when someone decides to make an AI OnlyFans in your name, and the AI tool cops are buying to geolocate photos.
Privacy
Underground Facial Recognition Tool Unmasks Camgirls
The site, camgirlfinder, is explicitly built as a tool to let people find a model's presence on other streaming platforms. The creator says “If that is a problem for you then the sad reality is this job is not for you.”
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Unglamorous Work
This week, we discuss support and saying RIP to FPDS.
waymo
Waymo Is Getting DoorDashers to Close Doors on Self Driving Cars
The companies have launched a pilot program in Atlanta, where “during the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get its vehicles back on the road quickly.”