Privacy

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/49951317

The United States is greatly expanding the use of a "biometric exit" program, whereby travelers have their photo taken on departure.

Nicholas: Once the system is in place you cannot go back. The ID card is an object that identifies you. You have to have it with you at all times. It makes police control much easier. If you can’t establish identity then they can take you to the police station without any other reason. Once they have the ID card in place then they can add other things- like biometric identification e.g. fingerprints. The base is the card and then they add things. The ID card is the beginning of a general file on everyone that regroups all other information they have to identify someone. They can have your whole life in this one file- your health, civil status etc.

The Dastardly Danes and Ursula are at it again.

https://fightchatcontrol.eu/

Saudi Arabia and Jared Kushner purchase kernel-level root access to your computer via purchase of Electronics Arts and their kernel anti-cheat

I'm just sharing here this app I use always on my phone, and I don't see many people talking about it.

It's similar to DuckDuckGo app feature that block trackers across all the device, but this one is focused only on that, it also allows you to add your custom tracker URLs to block and monitor every request being made.

It's open source and available on F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/packages/dev.clombardo.dnsnet/
GitHub: https://github.com/t895/DNSNet

It enables a VPN to intercept requests, so it can block URLs of trackers across all your apps. The app provides a list of URLs as you open it for the first time, you can choose a few options between less or more aggressive.

Obs.: The app don't tell, but when you add a custom URL you need to disable and enable it again.

Lithuania-based Whitebridge AI sells “reputation reports” on everyone with an online presence. These reports compile large amounts of scraped personal information about unsuspecting people, which is then sold to anyone willing to pay for it. Some data is not factual, but AI generated and includes suggested conversation topics, a list of alleged personality traits and a background check to see if you have shared adult, political, or religious content. Despite the legal right of free access to your own data, Whitebridge.ai only sells “reports” to the affected people. It seems the business model is largely based on scared users that want to review their own data that was previously unlawfully compiled. noyb has now filed a complaint with the Lithuanian DPA.

My router (TP Link) said it had a firmware update. I'm a responsible adult, so I update my firmware. When I log back in, I get this popup that they'd like to share my clients info.

cool...

OC by @megaman@discuss.tchncs.de

Failure to present a BritCard when required may result in denial of employment, housing, or access to certain services. Employers and landlords will be legally obligated to verify status through the system, and failure to do so may result in fines or penalties.

While enforcement details are still emerging, civil liberties groups warn that the scheme could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Those without smartphones, digital literacy, or stable housing may struggle to access or maintain their digital ID, potentially pushing them further into the margins of society.

A California police department's drone program helped officers track down and arrest a suspected repeat shoplifter who attempted to flee on a stolen bicycle Tuesday morning and might otherwise have gotten away, officials said.

The incident happed at a Walmart in Clovis, California, where police were called just after 8 a.m. for a known shoplifting suspect. The department's "Drone First Responder" (DFR) program proved crucial in the arrest, officials said.

"The suspect at Walmart stole a bicycle from inside the store, which the staff thought he would, and he took off on that bike," Clovis Police Public Information Officer Ty Wood told ABC News Fresno station.

The suspect, identified by police as 19-year-old Sean Baker, was tracked by the drone as he crossed a nearby street. He now faces charges including shoplifting, possession of burglary tools and obstructing an officer, according to police.

The police spokesperson told ABC News that the department's DFR program currently operates two drones, which can cover more than 90% of community. The department has already ordered a third drone for next year, the spokesperson said.

"We realize that drones are not going to be taking the place of a law enforcement helicopter, but with a city our size, we can't afford a helicopter. These drone first responders are definitely a game changer," the spokesperson told ABC News.

The drones, which typically fly at 200 feet, are equipped with advanced camera systems.

"These cameras are fantastic," Wood told ABC30. "We have the ability to see license plates and get physical descriptions of suspects."

A key advantage of the program is the drones' ability to arrive at scenes before officers. The spokesperson said responding officers can view live drone footage from their patrol car computers while en route to calls.

The suspect "went behind other retail businesses and he would have been lost if it weren't for the drone," Wood told ABC30.

The department, which serves a community of over 129,000 residents, launched its drone program in 2020, according to the spokesperson. The initiative has since become an important part of the department's Real Time Information Center (RTIC), which combines various surveillance systems used for public safety.