FOIA

44 posts
'FYI. A Warrant Isn’t Needed': Secret Service Says You Agreed To Be Tracked With Location Data
FOIA

'FYI. A Warrant Isn’t Needed': Secret Service Says You Agreed To Be Tracked With Location Data

The Secret Service has used a technology called Locate X which uses location data harvested from ordinary apps installed on phones. Because users agreed to an opaque terms of service page, the Secret Service believes it doesn't need a warrant.
Inside the Plan to Use AI to Purge Voter Rolls
EagleAI

Inside the Plan to Use AI to Purge Voter Rolls

Audio obtained from board of elections meetings in Georgia show how a tool called EagleAI was pitched to election officials.
Internal Emails Reveal How Hate Overwhelmed Springfield After Trump's Lies About Haitian Immigrants
FOIA

Internal Emails Reveal How Hate Overwhelmed Springfield After Trump's Lies About Haitian Immigrants

Internal emails from Springfield, Ohio reveal what has happened in the city after Donald Trump and JD Vance spread the conspiracy that Haitians are eating pets.
Delivery Robot Knocked Over Pedestrian, Company Offered ‘Promo Codes’ to Apologize
Starship

Delivery Robot Knocked Over Pedestrian, Company Offered ‘Promo Codes’ to Apologize

When a Starship employee talked to the police, the report says, he asked for the employee’s information “so he could contact her and offer their insurance information for her injuries and ‘promo codes.’”
The Air Force Is Researching a ‘MAD.AI’ That Would Adapt Drones to New Environments
FOIA

The Air Force Is Researching a ‘MAD.AI’ That Would Adapt Drones to New Environments

The Air Force has contracted with a company called Qylur, whose tool is designed to continuously improve the AI systems of autonomous devices such as drones and UAVs.
The DEA Really Didn’t Want to Release Records About Its Retirement Medals for Some Reason
FOIA

The DEA Really Didn’t Want to Release Records About Its Retirement Medals for Some Reason

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request over some frivolous records shows how agencies are increasingly refusing to release details on what the U.S. government spends its money on.
DHS Has a DoS Robot to Disable Internet of Things ‘Booby Traps’ Inside Homes
FOIA

DHS Has a DoS Robot to Disable Internet of Things ‘Booby Traps’ Inside Homes

"NEO carries an onboard computer and antenna array that will allow officers the ability to create a ‘denial-of-service’ event to disable ‘Internet of Things’ devices that could potentially cause harm while entry is made."
Police Really Want a Cybertruck, Email Shows
FOIA

Police Really Want a Cybertruck, Email Shows

The Anaheim Police Department said it wanted to be the first department with a Cybertruck, according to an internal email obtained by 404 Media. But the company advertising the modified vehicles hasn’t actually made one yet, the police said.
FOIA Forum with a PACER Expert! 7/31, 1PM EST
FOIA

FOIA Forum with a PACER Expert! 7/31, 1PM EST

Our next FOIA Forum is going to be with the world's best expert on digging up U.S. court records Seamus Hughes!
U.S. Nuke Agency Buys Internet Backbone Data
FOIA

U.S. Nuke Agency Buys Internet Backbone Data

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has bought access to netflow data. The tool covers more than 90 percent of the world's internet data and can trace activity through virtual private networks.
Emails Reveal the Playbook Used Against Libraries Planning ‘Drag Story Time’ Events
FOIA

Emails Reveal the Playbook Used Against Libraries Planning ‘Drag Story Time’ Events

Internal messages shared with 404 Media show how an official’s complaint about a drag queen story hour can spiral into bomb threats against the library hosting it.
Cops Released a Car’s Travel History to a Total Stranger
FOIA

Cops Released a Car’s Travel History to a Total Stranger

In a rare instance of too much transparency, an Ohio police department released the precise movements of a particular vehicle in response to a public records request, showing just how invasive license plate reading technology can be.