Natasha Lomas reports: An international coalition of civic society organizations, security and policy experts and tech companies — including Apple, Google, Microsoft and WhatsApp — has penned a critical slap-down to a surveillance proposal made last year by the UK’s intelligence agency, warning it would undermine trust and security and threaten fundamental rights. “The GCHQ’s…
Category: Govt
Federal Judge Hears Challenge to NSA ‘Upstream’ Spying
Jack Rodgers reports: On remand from the Fourth Circuit, a federal judge heard arguments Thursday in a challenge to the National Security Agency’s “upstream” surveillance of international and domestic text-based communications. Upstream surveillance, which the government argues is allowed under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, involves the NSA tapping into the physical…
E.D.Cal.: There’s no REP in the cell or room of the state’s mental hospital
I’m not sure I understand the court’s reasoning here. Or maybe I do understand but do not necessarily agree with it? Via FourthAmendment.com, their summary: There is no reasonable expectation of privacy in the cell or room of person under civil commitment. It’s not a jail and there are limited constitutional protections inside. Leonard v….
San Francisco police chief concedes raid on journalist was wrong — ‘I’m sorry’
Evan Sernoffsky reports: After two weeks of growing outrage, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott apologized Friday for raiding a journalist’s home and office in a bid to unmask a confidential source, admitting the searches were probably illegal and calling for an independent investigation into the episode. Read more on the San Francisco Chronicle.