Dhruv Mehrotra reports: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are using an obscure legal tool to demand data from elementary schools, news organizations, and abortion clinics in ways that, some experts say, may be illegal. While these administrative subpoenas, known as 1509 custom summonses, are meant to be used only in criminal investigations about illegal…
Category: Govt
IRS Wants to Buy Internet Mass Monitoring Tool
Joseph Cox reports: The IRS wants to purchase an internet monitoring tool from a company that has sold products to sections of the U.S. military and the FBI, according to public procurement records. The company, called Team Cymru, provides access to “netflow” data, which can show activity on the wider internet, such as which server communicated with another….
After New Zealand, Australia bans TikTok on official devices
Ivan Mehta reports: Australia joined a long list of western countries banning TikTok on official devices today. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced the move and said the prohibition will be implemented “as soon as practicable.” In the announcement, Dreyfus said that the decision was taken “after receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies.” Read more at TechCrunch.
FTC readies children’s privacy case against Amazon
Josh Sisco reports: The Federal Trade Commission is planning to move forward soon with a case against Amazon over alleged privacy violations stemming from the use of children’s data with the company’s Alexa voice assistant, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The antitrust and consumer protection agency has been investigating Amazon on a…