US Hacks IPhone, Ends Legal Battle But Questions Linger

Left unanswered, however, were questions about how the sudden development would affect privacy in the future, and what happens the next time the government is frustrated by digital security lockout features.

Associated Press
By Associated Press
A man holds up his phone during a rally in support of data privacy outside the Apple store Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in San Francisco. Protesters assembled in more than 30 cities to lash out at the FBI for obtaining a court order that requires Apple to make it easier to unlock an encrypted iPhone used by a gunman in December's mass murders in California. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

WASHINGTON -- The extraordinary legal fight pitting the Obama administration against technology giant Apple Inc. ended unexpectedly after the FBI said it used a mysterious method without Apple's help to hack into a California mass shooter's iPhone. Left unanswered, however, were questions about how the sudden development would affect privacy in

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Local Police Take The Eye Of Big Brother And Spy On Americans

“What we often see is police departments or local law enforcement agencies grabbing technologies without any policies in place for it, not asking anybody’s permission, just sort of getting it, [and] starting to implement it,” a digital rights activist tells MintPress.

Sean Nevins
By Sean Nevins
Police using 'Public Eye' surveillance software.

WASHINGTON --- Fast on the heels revelations of dragnet surveillance devices used by the likes of the National Security Agency and the CIA, another set of tools used by local police in communities across the United States is invading the privacy of the American public, tracking their movements. “If you were to put an automatic license plate

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Sunday Times Defends Anti-Snowden Report Criticized As ‘Opposite Of Journalism’

The article makes the startling claim that the huge cache of documents stolen by Snowden during his time as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA) has fallen into the hands of the Russian and Chinese governments and both had managed to “crack” the files, putting the lives of MI6 agents in danger.

Mint Press News Desk
By Mint Press News Desk

  Analysis-- Being a front page article on the Sunday Times will immediately give any story a significant level of credibility, which is why the splash story regarding Edward Snowden published on 14 June was so dangerous. The story is available online (behind a paywall) and the full text has also been reproduced. The article makes

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As the Sun Sets On Some Patriot Act Provisions, Will The Sun Rise On Civil Liberties?

Some of the most controversial surveillance mechanisms of the Patriot Act expired on Sunday night as a result of pushback from concerned citizens and some in Congress, who have taken up their interests. A reform bill, the USA Freedom Act, will vote on later in the week.

Sean Nevins
By Sean Nevins
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. holds up his cell phone as he speaks before announcing the start of his presidential campaign, in Louisville, Ky. Key Patriot Act anti-terror provisions, including bulk collection of Americans’ phone records, expire at midnight unless senators come up with an 11th hour deal in an extraordinary Sunday afternoon session.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. holds up his cell phone as he speaks before announcing the start of his presidential campaign, in Louisville, Ky. Key Patriot Act anti-terror provisions, including bulk collection of Americans’ phone records, expire at midnight unless senators come up with an 11th hour deal in an extraordinary Sunday afternoon

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14,000 Websites Have Blocked Congress From Accessing Their Pages, Here’s Why

“It’s like a strip search, online. We should never, ever have to worry the government is watching our private moments. Congress should be ashamed that they want to see our naked photos, so we’re putting up plenty of them to make sure they are!”

Carey Wedler
By Carey Wedler

(ANTIMEDIA) As of Friday afternoon, over 14,000 websites have blocked Congressional access to their pages, instead directing them to a protest page. The massive move is an effort to show Congress that its push for continued surveillance via the Patriot Act and USA Freedom Act is unwelcome. Facilitated by Fight for the Future (a non-profit

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NSA’s Loudest Defenders Have Financial Ties to NSA Contractors

The Intercept has identified several former government and military officials whose voices have shaped the public discourse around government spying and surveillance issues but whose financial ties to NSA contractors have received little attention. These pundits have played a key role in the public debate as the White House and the agency itself have struggled to defend the most controversial spying programs revealed by Snowden’s documents.

Mint Press News Desk
By Mint Press News Desk
nsa

  Report by Lee Fang for The Intercept-- The debate over the NSA’s bulk collection of phone records has reached a critical point after a federal appeals court last week ruled the practice illegal, dramatically raising the stakes for pending Congressional legislation that would fully or partially reinstate the program. An army of pundits

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