"The willingness of the government to punish leakers is inversely proportional to the leakers' rank and status, which is bad news for someone so lacking in those attributes as Edward Snowden," writes media critic Jack Shafer at Reuters. As the US moves to prosecute Snowden, Shafer says we should ask "Why Snowden is singled out for punishment when he's essentially done what the insider dissenters did when they spoke with Risen and Lichtblau in 2005 about an invasive NSA program. He deserves the same justice and the same punishment they received."
Jack Shafer: Edward Snowden and the selective targeting of leaks
Exposé on local police's use of Fog Reveal, a platform for mass-surveillance of small-town America
Whether you're an activist in a small town or an insurrectionist who stormed Capitol Hill, America's police have a system for tracking you down, cobbled together from all the data we blithely agree to share with apps—and other mysterious sources besides. The journey from End User License Agreement to data brokers to lucrative licensing agreements… READ THE REST
Canadian fast food chain Tim Hortons had app users under constant surveillance
The app put out by Tim Hortons turned out to be constantly recording movements, illegally collecting "vast amounts of location data" without users' knowledge or consent. "The app also used location data to infer where users lived, where they worked, and whether they were traveling," the Office of the Privacy Commissioner said. "It generated an… READ THE REST
ShotSpotter "wastes millions of taxpayer dollars" and doesn't even work, say critics
ShotSpotter is a service that installs microphones around town and "spots" gunshots, but is frequently criticized for its reliability and price. One study found it offers "no reductions in serious violent crimes, yet … increases demands on police resources". The problems with it are both systematic (the mics confirm the biases that went into the… READ THE REST
No need to wait for Prime Day to get a modern vinyl player at a great price
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. It's easy to stream music on your iPhone or your Alexa — but if you're a true music fan, you know streaming music like that just doesn't cut it. You end… READ THE REST
Shopping before Prime Day? This advanced cybersecurity hardware is on sale for $48 off.
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Can you really put a price on Internet privacy? Yes, you can. And while your credit card info and personal details being leaked are a major concern, imagine if someone pulled out loans… READ THE REST
This Xbox game developer bundle is on sale for a limited time
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Ever dreamed of being a video game designer? The 2023 Ultimate Xbox Game Developer Bundle makes the perfect starter kit for the gamer in your life! With the holidays right around the corner, you'll… READ THE REST
