Tag: law enforcement
448 articles
Police Conceal Use of Flock Surveillance Cameras
In Wapello County, Iowa, police are instructed to keep their use of Flock surveillance cameras under wraps, with a usage policy explicitly telling officers not to mention the technology to vehicle occupants or in official reports unless absolutely necessary. This secretive approach raises questions about transparency and accountability.
Lawmakers Probe Federal Government's Hacking of Americans
Senators are demanding answers about the federal government's secretive hacking practices, and they're calling on the Government Accountability Office to shine a light on the scope, frequency, and safety measures behind these operations. They want to know how often and how extensively the government is using hacking and spyware to investigate Americans.
Bipartisan Retail Theft Bill Sparks Surveillance Fears
A bipartisan bill aimed at tackling organized retail theft has sparked fears of a massive surveillance network, with critics warning it could have far-reaching and alarming consequences. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would create a new coordination center within ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division.
US Agencies Expand DNA Database
The US government's DNA database is expanding rapidly, with a 2025 goal to build a national DNA database for solving crimes that's sparking heated debate about genetic data collection and storage. This move links DNA samples from Homeland Security detainees to the FBI's crime-fighting database, CODIS.
ICE Bans Meta Smart Glasses Over Privacy Risks
The use of Meta smart glasses poses a significant risk of secretly recording or transmitting sensitive information, compromising privacy and legal protections, which is why ICE has banned their use. These devices essentially act as body-worn cameras, capable of covertly capturing video and audio.
UK Watchdog Warns Police on Facial Recognition Data Governance
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office warns that police use of facial recognition technology poses significant risks to privacy and individual rights if not governed properly. A recent audit of five police forces revealed inconsistent compliance with data protection laws, highlighting an urgent need for improved data governance.
Ukraine Disrupts 94 Fraudulent Call Centers in Nationwide Crackdown
In a massive nationwide crackdown, Ukrainian authorities have shut down 94 scam call centers that tricked people into fake investment schemes, stealing their bank account info by posing as bankers, brokers, and even law enforcement officers. The operation, involving over 400 searches, has already led to 26 suspects being formally identified.
UK Hacker Behind The Com Network Sentenced for Abuse of 117 Victims
Justin Swaddle, a 20-year-old UK man, has been sentenced to two years in prison for terrorizing 117 vulnerable victims worldwide with online abuse, forcing them to perform shocking acts of self-harm and sexual activity for his own twisted online popularity. He must also register as a sex offender.
ICE Expands Access to Credit Card Records for Fraud, Security Probes
Investors are sounding the alarm over a new ICE contract with Thomson Reuters Special Services, which for the first time includes voter fraud investigations, and are demanding clarity on the agreement. The contract aims to provide ICE with easy access to credit card records to tackle voter fraud, immigration fraud, and national security threats.
US Lawmakers Scrutinize Scam-Fighting Coordination
US lawmakers are pushing for better coordination in scam-fighting efforts, calling for a unified leader to tackle the issue with the urgency of a combat operation. Currently, there's no single entity in charge across agencies, leaving scam networks to easily relocate and evade enforcement.
Ransomware Kingpin Silnikau Gets 16 Years in Prison
In a major win for cybersecurity, Maksim Silnikau, the mastermind behind the notorious Ransom Cartel ransomware operation, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in wreaking havoc on victims worldwide. The Belarusian national was brought to justice through a collaborative effort between US and Polish authorities.
UK Police Expose Victim Data to Stalker, Regulator Warns
When victims share their most sensitive information with the police, they trust that it will be kept safe - but in two shocking data breaches, the Metropolitan Police Service let that trust down, putting a stalking victim's new address and number at risk. The incidents have sparked a stern warning from regulators about the force's handling of sensitive information.
Australia's Democracy Tests Boundary Between Protest and Coercion
A joint counterterrorism team is investigating a shocking vandalism attack on Melbourne's Lovitt Technologies as a potential act of terrorism linked to far-left extremists with anarchist and revolutionary ideologies. The incident has sparked a broader probe with significant implications for Australian democracy.
UK Police Database Breach Exposes Officer Data on Dark Web
A sensitive police database has been breached, putting the personal details of police officers, staff, and justice professionals at risk after being published on the dark web. The breach, detected on July 26, exposed names, work email addresses, and organizations, but thankfully, no passwords or security credentials were compromised.
ExfilSquad Breach Exposes Data of 100,000 UK Police Officers
A massive data breach has hit the UK police force, with a hacking group claiming to have stolen sensitive information from over 100,000 officers, including names, organizations, and email addresses. The breach, attributed to ExfilSquad, has left thousands of police personnel and government partners vulnerable to potential identity theft and harassment.
PNLD Breach Reveals U.K. Police and Government Contacts on Dark Web
A recent PNLD data breach has exposed sensitive contact information of U.K. police, government officials, and customers on the dark web, including names, work email addresses, and organisation details. The breach could make it easier for scammers to craft convincing phishing messages targeting law enforcement officers.
US Prosecutes Man for Using Phone Wipe Feature at Border
A man is facing prosecution for using his phone's wipe feature at the border, specifically with GrapheneOS, a custom Android operating system that prioritizes security. He provided border officials with a code that deliberately erased his phone's contents, sparking a criminal charge.
Vandalism Targets Flock Cameras, Backfires with Arrest
In a case of payback, a vandal who targeted Flock cameras in Monterey County has been arrested and will face the consequences, sending a strong message that damaging public safety equipment won't be tolerated. The suspect, 40-year-old Marcus Bee, caused thousands of dollars in damage before being taken into custody.
Axon Expands License Plate Surveillance Reach
Municipalities like Denver, Colorado, are taking a closer look at their license plate surveillance systems, making changes that have some questioning whether they're simply swapping one brand for another or making a meaningful shift. Denver is among the cities ditching Flock license-plate reader arrays, but is this a cosmetic change or a step towards reevaluating surveillance priorities?
FBI Warns of AI-Powered Vulnerability Exploits
The FBI is sounding the alarm on a new threat: AI-powered vulnerability exploits that can target the very foundation of our digital infrastructure, including operating systems, security, web infrastructure, and encryption. This emerging threat has the potential to revolutionize the way law enforcement approaches cybersecurity.
Cognyte Unveils Mobile Cell Surveillance Tech
Meet FalcoNet, a game-changing mobile cell-site simulator that can be easily deployed from a vehicle, backpack, or even helicopter, allowing law enforcement to track nearby phones and stay one step ahead. This innovative tech from Cognyte can mimic a mobile phone tower, forcing phones in range to connect and reveal valuable information.
Europol Disrupts The Com's Online Ecosystem with 4,340 URL Takedowns
In a major crackdown, Europol and its partners have taken down 4,340 URLs linked to The Com, a notorious online network accused of radicalizing young people and facilitating illicit activity. This coordinated effort is part of a broader mission to protect vulnerable youth and disrupt the online ecosystem of recruiters and extortionists.
Encryption Debate Intensifies as Governments Target End-to-End Security
Limiting end-to-end encryption would have far-reaching and devastating effects on cybersecurity, commerce, and government operations. Governments worldwide are pushing laws to restrict this vital security measure, sparking a heated debate about the future of online protection.
Law Enforcement Disrupts Kratos Phishing Kit Targeting Microsoft 365 Sessions
In a major win for cybersecurity, law enforcement agencies have dismantled the notorious Kratos Phishing Kit, pulling over 200 servers offline and disrupting thousands of phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 sessions. The operation, coordinated with Indonesian authorities, is estimated to have impacted around 1,800 paying customers who were using Kratos to run approximately 15,000 phishing campaigns monthly.