SURVEILLANCE
This Is the Code the FBI Used to Wiretap the World
Motherboard is publishing parts of the code for the Anom encrypted messaging app, which was secretly managed by the FBI in order to monitor organized crime on a global scale.
Apple Announces 'Extreme' Privacy Mode for Targets of Government Spyware
The company will allow high-risk users to turn off certain features that make them more vulnerable to spyware such as that made by NSO Group.
A Massive Police Database of Allegedly 1 Billion Chinese Citizens Is Being Sold Online
The sample files contain a trove of crime reports, including cases of looting, fraud, and “illegal” handjobs.
Tech Companies Won't Say If They’ll Give Cops Abortion Data
Motherboard asked some of the biggest tech companies on the planet if they'll provide law enforcement with user data related to abortions. None of them answered the question.
Chinese Officials Are Weaponizing COVID Health Tracker to Block Protests
Would-be protesters saw their health codes turn red and were forced into quarantine.
Russian Spy Tried to Infiltrate The Hague as an Intern, Here’s His Cover Story
The spy's bizarre and bizarrely elaborate fake life story somehow helped him land a prestigious posting.
Sweeping Legislation Aims to Ban the Sale of Location Data
The Health and Location Data Protection Act comes after Motherboard reported that brokers were selling location data on people visiting abortion clinics. The bill would give the FTC and individual people power to curb some of the worst abuses of such data
Android Stalkerware ‘TheTruthSpy’ Exposing Images of Children Online
The exposure is notable in that images clearly show children and other photos contain items related to infants.
Meme Stock Traders Ecstatic After Palantir Teases Ukraine War Involvement
"PALANTIR TO THE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!!!!!!!" one commenter said.
A European Country Helped the FBI Intercept Anom Messages, But It Wants to Remain Hidden
A U.S. authored document obtained by Motherboard says that the unnamed country that was vital to the FBI being able to read messages from its honeypot phone company Anom was a “European Union member country.”
Anonymous Social Media App Yik Yak Exposed Users’ Precise Locations
Privacy researchers have found that it’s possible to find out the precise location of Yik Yak posts, potentially exposing users to doxing or stalking.
San Francisco Police Are Using Driverless Cars as Mobile Surveillance Cameras
“Autonomous vehicles are recording their surroundings continuously and have the potential to help with investigative leads,” an internal training document states.