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Government Surveillance

Oakland Approves ‘Nationwide Mass-Surveillance System’, Agrees to Install 480 New Cameras

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The California city of Oakland has approved a plan to install 480 surveillance cameras equipped with automatic license plate readers in an effort to fight rising crime in the city. Most of the cameras, 290, will be deployed inside the city while the remaining 180 will be placed on freeways.

The cameras will provide law enforcement with the ability to track vehicles as they drive around the area, and can track them using license plates, car type, color, decals, and bumper stickers.

“We’re equipping law enforcement with the tools they need to effectively combat criminal activity and hold perpetrators accountable,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Friday. “[We are] building safer, stronger, communities for all Californians.”

The initiative, funded through a significant contract with the private surveillance firm Flock Safety in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol, gained approval from the Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission in October. This decision marked a shift for the commission, which had previously recommended in 2019 that the city discontinue the use of automatic license plate readers.

Flock Safety, headquartered in Georgia, is a private company focused on establishing a nationwide surveillance network. One notable feature of its services is the option for users to integrate their cameras into this network, facilitating easy access for law enforcement agencies across the country. Co-founder Garrett Langley has expressed an ambition for 25% of all national crimes to be solved utilizing their network.

The company has gained traction in the Bay Area, with an increasing number of Homeowners Associations, including those in Oakland, opting to utilize Flock Safety for neighborhood surveillance. Flock Safety has already deployed cameras in 2,000 cities across at least 42 states.

Critics, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have voiced concerns about the implications of Flock Safety’s system. They argue that the proliferation of its automatic license plate recognition cameras represents a form of widespread, unregulated surveillance. Additionally, they caution that the system could be exploited for investigations spanning state boundaries, potentially impacting areas like immigration and abortion cases. There are also fears that it could be utilized to monitor the activities of political activists or individuals attending certain religious services.

In a separate incident, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit organization advocating for digital privacy rights, disclosed that the San Francisco Police Department had been granted live-feed access to a network of privately owned surveillance cameras ahead of protests related to the police killing of Tyre Nichols in 2020.

The ACLU raises a significant concern regarding the Flock Safety system compared to traditional automatic license plate recognition cameras: the company retains captured images for up to 60 days. In contrast, conventional systems typically delete photos immediately if the license plate does not match any law enforcement or AMBER alert lists. New Hampshire has implemented a policy mandating the deletion of photos not resulting in a hit within three minutes, a move applauded by the ACLU.

While most cities in California experienced a decrease in crime last year, Oakland witnessed an 18% increase, particularly in robberies and motor vehicle thefts. However, the effectiveness of increased surveillance in reducing crime remains uncertain. Interestingly, among the ten most surveilled cities based on the number of cameras per 1,000 people, five of them—Washington DC, Chicago, Albuquerque, Detroit, and Memphis—are among the top 35 most dangerous cities in America, including two in the top five, namely Memphis and Detroit.

Biden Administration

DHS and FBI Issue Warning About Large Fourth of July Events as ‘Attractive’ Targets for

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning on Wednesday regarding potential threats to large Fourth of July celebrations. According to an internal bulletin obtained by ABC News, these events are considered “attractive” targets for lone offenders and small groups with malicious intentions.

The bulletin emphasizes the risk posed by individuals and small groups who might exploit the gatherings for terrorism or other harmful activities. The warning comes as the nation prepares for Independence Day festivities, which traditionally draw large crowds to public spaces.

The FBI and DHS are urging local law enforcement and event organizers to increase vigilance and security measures. The agencies highlight the importance of public awareness and cooperation, encouraging individuals to report any suspicious activities immediately.

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Government Surveillance

Supreme Court to Review Texas Digital ID Verification Law

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The Supreme Court has announced it will review a legal challenge against a Texas statute mandating digital ID verification for any websites and apps that could be deemed “harmful to minors.” While the law is typically associated with pornographic material, the broad term “harmful to minors” could apply to a wide range of websites, preventing users from accessing content without first uploading their ID.

This legal battle revolves around Texas’ age verification bill, introduced in 2023. The law also requires these sites to present health warnings about the alleged psychological dangers of pornography consumption. Notably, this labeling requirement does not yet extend to search engines or social media platforms.

Websites that fail to comply with the law face steep fines, including daily civil penalties of up to $10,000 and potential fines from the Texas attorney general of up to $250,000 per instance if a minor accesses restricted content. Similar laws are currently active in seven other states and are set to be introduced in more states soon.

The Free Speech Coalition, along with several adult website operators, filed a lawsuit against the bill. Their argument is that the law infringes on First Amendment rights. A federal district court initially halted the law’s enforcement just before its implementation on September 1, 2023.

Mandatory digital ID requirements for website and social media use raise significant concerns about the chilling effect on free speech. These requirements can deter online participation due to privacy fears and undermine the anonymity vital for activists and whistleblowers. Such policies may also lead to self-censorship, as users might avoid sharing controversial opinions out of fear of being easily traced. Additionally, implementing digital IDs poses complex legal, technical, and logistical challenges that could result in bureaucratic errors and data breaches. The major Big Tech ID verification company AU10TIX was recently reported to have suffered a data leak, though the company says it hasn’t seen evidence of any user data being exploited.

The majority of the panel at the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit concluded that the Texas law is “rationally related to the government’s legitimate interest in preventing minors’ access to pornography,” using the least stringent rational-basis review standard, and thus did not violate the First Amendment. In contrast, Judge Patrick Higginbotham dissented, arguing that the law necessitates strict scrutiny due to its content-based restrictions on adult access to protected speech.

As the 5th Circuit allowed its decision to stand, the Free Speech Coalition and the affected websites escalated the matter to the Supreme Court. Their appeal emphasized the contradiction between the 5th Circuit’s decision and established Supreme Court precedents regarding sexual content and expression. They argue that the law unduly burdens adults’ constitutional rights by requiring the disclosure of personal information, thus increasing the risk of data breaches and privacy violations.

Texas officials defend the legislation, asserting it as a reasonable measure to protect minors from sexually explicit materials and not an undue burden on the porn industry.

As the Supreme Court prepares to review the case, the decision will have significant implications for digital privacy, free speech, and the regulation of online content across the United States.

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Government Surveillance

Automakers Confirm Warrantless Location Data Sharing With US Agencies

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Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Volkswagen, BMW, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, and Kia all have confirmed that they have tech embedded in their vehicles allowing them to turn over location data to US government based solely on a subpoena, without a judge having to sign off on an approval.

Volkswagen is the “outlier” here, in that this company will do the same if the data is six days or less old – a subpoena will do. But an actual warrant will be needed to turn over data that spans data collected over a week, according to reports.

Recognizing the need to address these concerns, Democrat Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey reached out to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate car manufacturers’ sharing of data with law enforcement agencies.

Their letter highlighted various scenarios where the sharing of location data could infringe upon individuals’ rights, including cases involving sensitive matters like abortion access and instances of stalking. The broader question remains: why is the fundamental right to privacy seemingly eroding, regardless of suspected violations?

Here is a copy of the newly obtained letter.

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