U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expanding its facial biometric program to include photographs of Canadians entering and exiting the country at all points of entry. This expansion follows the current practice of photographing arriving international passengers at airports and is set to be mandatory for non-U.S. citizens, including Canadians, starting December 26th. The program aims to ensure accurate records, enhance security, and enforce immigration laws, while also helping to track those who overstay their visas. However, privacy concerns have been raised, particularly regarding the potential for misuse of collected data.
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Denmark announced a plan to implement a social media ban for children under 15, though the specific platforms and implementation details remain unclear. The bill would allow parental consent for social media use starting at age 13. This initiative follows Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s, and the EU’s proposal for an “age of digital adulthood.”
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Flock Safety, a company that deploys license plate-reading cameras, has suspended operations with federal agencies due to concerns over data usage, especially in Illinois. The company’s cameras capture billions of license plate photos monthly, with local agencies controlling the data and responding to law enforcement inquiries. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias raised concerns after discovering Customs and Border Protection accessed Illinois data, potentially violating a state law restricting data sharing on abortion and immigration. As a result, Flock Safety has revised its system to clearly identify federal inquiries and limit search capabilities.
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President Trump’s executive order, “Eliminating Information Silos,” mandates federal agencies provide designated officials access to all unclassified information, potentially creating a massive citizen database via Palantir. This database, combining data from agencies like the SSA and DHS, raises significant privacy concerns, granting access to sensitive personal information. Despite these concerns, some commentators support the initiative, citing benefits like identifying illegal immigrants, even though this prioritizes security over civil liberties. This action mirrors past instances where fear, such as after 9/11 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the acceptance of expanded government surveillance.
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Recently, the US Embassy in Tokyo announced that all nonimmigrant visa applicants must disclose all social media accounts used in the past five years. Failure to comply will result in visa denial. While US agencies have previously reviewed applicant social media, this new policy marks a significant increase in scrutiny, prompting concern among Japanese citizens and legal experts. The lack of specifics regarding the review process has heightened anxieties about the potential impact of online content on visa approvals. Applicants are urged to accurately and completely disclose all requested social media information.
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The Department of Homeland Security proposes expanding social media data collection for immigration applicants, encompassing those already in the U.S. seeking benefits like green cards or citizenship. This expands upon existing practices, initiated during the Obama administration and intensified under Trump, aiming to enhance fraud detection and national security vetting. The proposal, open for public comment until May 5th, has raised concerns from advocates regarding free speech implications and the potential for biased interpretations of social media content. An estimated 3.6 million individuals could be affected by this policy change.
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The sadness surrounding the case of the mother arrested in connection with the cold case death of her newborn daughter found in a California dumpster 37 years ago is overwhelming. The tragedy of an innocent life lost in such a heinous manner is something that is hard to fathom. As information comes to light about the circumstances surrounding this case, it’s hard not to question the priorities and resources being allocated to these types of investigations.
The fact that there are laws in place now, such as the “Safe Arms for Newborns” law passed in 2001, that allow parents to confidentially surrender newborns to hospitals or fire stations without fear of prosecution is a crucial piece of information that sheds light on the lack of options available to young mothers in the past.… Continue reading
When I first heard about Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology in their Fresh grocery stores, I was intrigued by the idea of skipping the checkout line altogether. The convenience of scanning a QR code upon entering the store seemed like a futuristic shopping experience. However, learning that this advanced technology was actually just a facade for remote workers in India watching and labeling videos of customers shopping left me feeling deceived.
The fact that the cashiers were simply moved off-site and substituted by camera surveillance is unsettling. The idea that someone was watching my every move as I shopped is not only creepy but also raises concerns about privacy and security.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker