smartphone

Apple Torches Its Pro-Privacy Reputation to Build a Massive iPhone Surveillance Infrastructure

According to the EFF, Apple has announced that it will be building a content-monitoring system into every iPhone, obliterating its reputation as a privacy champion practically overnight. The smartphone giant explained that every iPhone will soon be automatically loaded … Read more »

Magistrate Judge in Chicago Sets Stage for Challenging “Geofence” Warrant Constitutionality

According to a report in Wired, a magistrate judge based in Chicago has called the constitutionality of expansive location-based search warrants into question for the first time. In a July ruling that was only recently unsealed, judge M. David … Read more »

DHS Reportedly Arrested Suspects Pinpointed with Purchased Location Data

Earlier this month, The Verge reported that the Department of Homeland Security purchased location data for an unspecified number of individuals in the US-Mexico border region. DHS reviewed a swath of historical location data for those whose data indicated they … Read more »

Border Warrant Exemption for Smartphone Search Under New Challenge in Newly Filed Lawsuit

This week, Ars Technica reported that a new lawsuit has been filed challenging the federal government’s practice of searching without warrants the digital devices of Americans entering or leaving the country. The suit takes aim at the dubious, though judicially Read more »

Rauner Vetoes Bill Requiring User Opt-In for Selling Geolocation Data

The Chicago Tribune reports that Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has vetoed a bill which would have required tech companies and other businesses whose products or services handle geolocation data to receive explicit consent from users or customers before that data … Read more »

Announcement: CCDBR Website is Now Encrypted!

Beginning today, the website for the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights, ccdbr.org, is now secured with SSL/TLS encryption. Connections to the website from all modern desktop and mobile web browsers will now automatically enable an encrypted connection … Read more »

ICE Confirmed to Use Stingrays for Making Deportation Arrests

According to a new piece in The Intercept, at least one instance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement utilizing a cell-site simulator as part of a deportation arrest has been confirmed. The cell-site simulator, an invasive cell phone surveillance device more … Read more »

Chicago Aldermen’s Plan for “Textalyzer” Tool Could Infringe on Digital Privacy

According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, two Chicago city aldermen have proposed a measure that would subject those suspected of texting while driving to a search of their phone using a potentially invasive forensic device. In the hopes of more … Read more »

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