Category Archives: Privacy

Zuckerberg appears before Senate’s Judiciary & Commerce committees

The Progressive Wing Posted on by

Awkwardness ensues as top Democratic senator asks Mark Zuckerberg if he’ll reveal what hotel he stayed at last night WASHINGTON — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg got into an awkward exchange with a top Democratic senator on Tuesday when the lawmaker began probing him about his own personal privacy. During the blockbuster hearing on Capitol Hill, Sen. Dick Durbin asked Zuckerberg, “Would you be comfortable sharing with us the name of the hotel you stayed in last night?” “Um,” Zuckerberg said before a long pause. “No.” The audience and panel of senators erupted in laughter at Zuckerberg’s hesitancy to answer questions … Continue reading →

Chelsea Manning is running for Senate in Maryland

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Chelsea’s running. A transgender former Army intelligence who rose to national prominence for leaking sensitive information to Wikileaks has taken steps to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland. The Federal Election Commission website indicates Chelsea Manning on Thursday filed for candidacy to run as a Democrat in the mid-term election. It would be difficult for Manning to wrest the Democratic nomination from incumbent Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who’s seen the overwhelmingly favorite as he runs for a third term. The primary is set for June 28. Technically, Cardin hasn’t confirmed he’ll be defending his seat. Ben Cardin, 74, has not … Continue reading →

In Privacy Win, Federal Judge Rejects ‘Stingray’ Evidence for First Time

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Via CommonDreams.org by Nadia Prupis For the first time, a federal judge has thrown out evidence obtained by police without a warrant using the controversial “Stingray” device that mimics cell phone towers to trick nearby devices into connecting with them, revealing private information. U.S. District Judge William Pauley said the defendant’s rights were violated when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) used a Stingray to figure out his home address during a drug investigation. Pauley rejected the evidence, writing, “The use of a cell-site simulator constitutes a Fourth Amendment search…. Absent a search warrant, the government may not turn a … Continue reading →

Edward Snowden Lawyer Vows New Push For Pardon From Obama

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Edward Snowden lawyer vows new push for pardon from Obama Lawyers working with Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower who received sanctuary in Russia after fleeing the US, have vowed to step up pressure on Barack Obama’s administration for a presidential pardon. “We’re going to make a very strong case between now and the end of this administration that this is one of those rare cases for which the pardon power exists,” Ben Wizner, the ACLU lawyer who is Snowden’s principal legal adviser, told New York magazine in a cover story published late on Sunday. “It’s not for when … Continue reading →

Video: Snowden Speaks With VICE On The “State Of Surveillance”

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The full episode of VICE on HBO’s ‘State of Surveillance’ is available to stream for free on VICE News. When NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked details of massive government surveillance programs in 2013, he ignited a raging debate over digital privacy and security. That debate came to a head this year, when Apple refused an FBI court order to access the iPhone of alleged San Bernardino Terrorist Syed Farook. Meanwhile, journalists and activists are under increasing attack from foreign agents. To find out the government’s real capabilities, and whether any of us can truly protect our sensitive information, VICE founder … Continue reading →