Jul 272023
 

The Texas Department of Public Safety purchased access to powerful software capable of locating and following people through their phones as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s “border security disaster” efforts, according to documents reviewed by The Intercept. In 2021, Abbott proclaimed that the “surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border posed an ongoing and imminent threat of disaster” to the state and its residents. Among other effects, the disaster declaration opened a spigot of government money to a variety of private firms ostensibly paid to help patrol and blockade the state’s border with Mexico. One of the private companies that got in on the cash disbursements was Cobwebs Technologies, a little-known Israeli surveillance contractor….

External feed Read More at the Source: https://theintercept.com/2023/07/26/texas-phone-tracking-border-surveillance/

 2023-07-27  Comments Off on The Intercept – Texas State Police Purchased Israeli Phone-Tracking Software for “Border Emergency”
Jul 272023
 

For years, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers have stopped motorists on interstate highways. That’s the job. But the job became much more interesting when neighboring states legalized marijuana. Colorado led the way, with others following, but Colorado’s actions have had the most impact on the KHP. Missouri’s more recent legalization has only compounded the problem facing drivers on Kansas highways.
Thanks to the fact that there’s legal weed right over the border, KHP troopers are assuming anyone with out of state plates is headed to enjoy legal activities (in Colorado and Missouri) that are still illegal in Kansas. Opportunism is the name of the game. And that game means KHP troopers routinely violate rights, not to mention ignore…

External feed Read More at the Source: https://www.techdirt.com/2023/07/26/federal-judge-says-state-troopers-kansas-two-step-bullshit-violates-the-rights-of-drivers/

 2023-07-27  Comments Off on Techdirt. – Federal Judge Says State Troopers’ ‘Kansas Two Step’ Bullshit Violates The Rights Of Drivers