Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 8h

Explosive story on how your data will be used against you. Read this! www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

The surveillance empire that tracked world leaders, a Vatican enemy, and maybe you

Inside the hidden world of First Wap, whose untraceable tech has targeted politicians, journalists, celebrities, and activists around the globe.

www.motherjones.com

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 8h

#PaternisticSurveillance

I thought you went to college to escape being nagged.

Next the AI will tell you not to order late night pizza for the third night in a row.

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 8h

“Like a smartwatch reminding you to stand up or drink water, Evergreen will notice if a student who normally visits the fitness center hasn’t done so or encourage a student to leave the library after studying for six hours…”

Dartmouth Builds Its Own AI Chatbot for Student Well-Being

The undergrad-assisted research project will draw on students’ data to provide chatbot support and personalized plans for health and wellness.

www.insidehighered.com

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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 8h

“Like a smartwatch reminding you to stand up or drink water, Evergreen will notice if a student who normally visits the fitness center hasn’t done so or encourage a student to leave the library after studying for six hours…”

Dartmouth Builds Its Own AI Chatbot for Student Well-Being

The undergrad-assisted research project will draw on students’ data to provide chatbot support and personalized plans for health and wellness.

www.insidehighered.com

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Matthew Guariglia @mguariglia.bsky.social · 14h

Axon is one of the biggest provider of police tech in the country and they are staking a lot on their AI product.

Now that the ink is dry on S.B.524, if police in California use their report writing tool as it comes out of box without additional retention practices, they will be breaking the law.

Victory! California Requires Transparency for AI Police Reports

California Governor Newsom has signed SB 524, making California the second state to take an important first step toward regulating AI police reports.

www.eff.org

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Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 16h

1/Stop everything and read/watch/bookmark this massive investigation between @motherjones.com @lighthousereports.com Le Monde, Der Spiegel, Paper Trail Media a vast global surveillance empire used to target politicians, journalists, tech CEOs, and... Jared Leto.
ow.ly/2LUF50Xb7KE

The surveillance empire that tracked world leaders, a Vatican enemy, and maybe you

We uncovered a massive data trove. It revealed the hidden world of First Wap, whose untraceable tech has targeted politicians, journalists, celebrities, and activists around the globe.

ow.ly

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 1d

“The Rise of Big Data Policing” really should be a best seller in the UK with the number of predictive policing headlines coming out of there. Learn from the US’s mistakes. www.talk-finance.co.uk/moderntech/a...

AI will predict who will murder and steal; let's hope it isn't trained on Agatha Christie's novels - Talk Finance

In a characteristically ambitious foray into techno-utopian governance, the British government, via its Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has proclaimed it will conjure an AI-p...

www.talk-finance.co.uk

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Evan Selinger @evanselinger.bsky.social · 1d

Thrilled that “Move Slow and Upgrade,” my new Cambridge University Press book written with Albert Fox Cahn, is available for pre-order this week at 25% off.

www.waterstones.com/campaign/oct...

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Ben Winters @benwinters.bsky.social · 4d

and this too in the same week -- surveillance state getting more surveillanced each day

www.wccbcharlotte.com/2025/10/10/t...

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 6d

Your Data Will Be Used Against You

Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai @lorenzofb.bsky.social · 6d

Here's an updated list of all the technology ICE has in its arsenal to mass deport people.

We've added new sections on cell-site simulators and cellphone location data.

techcrunch.com/2025/10/08/h...

Here's the tech powering ICE's deportation crackdown | TechCrunch

From phone spyware and facial recognition to phone unlocking technology and databases and more, this tech powers Trump's deportation machine.

techcrunch.com

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Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai @lorenzofb.bsky.social · 6d

Here's an updated list of all the technology ICE has in its arsenal to mass deport people.

We've added new sections on cell-site simulators and cellphone location data.

techcrunch.com/2025/10/08/h...

Here's the tech powering ICE's deportation crackdown | TechCrunch

From phone spyware and facial recognition to phone unlocking technology and databases and more, this tech powers Trump's deportation machine.

techcrunch.com

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 7d

Your Data Will Be Used Against You. data.aclum.org/2025/10/07/f...

Flock Gives Law Enforcement All Over the Country Access to Your Location – The Data for Justice Project | ACLU of Massachusetts

data.aclum.org

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 8d

Also there is a video version. youtu.be/zQ2oS87PxeA

How AI-generated police reports could affect you | Terms of Service

YouTube video by CNN

youtu.be

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Public Defenseless Podcast @pdefenselesspod.bsky.social · 8d

If you want to learn about the dangers of AI generated police reports, read @profferguson.bsky.social's law review article below and then check out the last time he joined the show!

open.spotify.com/episode/5Ooc...

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 8d

mashable.com/article/ai-p...

AI-powered security systems invite 'Minority Report' comparisons

Generative AI has become a much bigger player in the security sector. But privacy experts worry that it's introducing a civil liberties nightmare.

mashable.com

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 8d

Excited to “Generative Suspicion and the Risks of AI-Assisted Police Reports” in print. This is the first deep dive law review article into this novel AI use case for policing. #law #policing

scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/nulr/vol120/...

Generative Suspicion and the Risks of AI-Assisted Police Reports

Police reports play a central role in the criminal justice system. Many times, police reports exist as the only official memorialization of what happened during an incident, shaping probable cause det...

scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 10d

Your Data Will Be Used Against You.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 10d

Analysis: For the first time, Amazon is adding facial recognition to its home security doorbells and video cameras.

The feature will be optional for Ring device owners.

Analysis | Amazon’s Ring plans to scan everyone’s face at the door

For the first time, the company is putting facial recognition into its home security doorbells and video cameras.

wapo.st

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 10d

I should send you my RTCC and Brady article I am writing…

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 10d

Also they might be subject to legal challenge. texaslawreview.org/video-analyt...

Video Analytics and Fourth Amendment Vision | Texas Law Review

Introduction In cities across America, Real-Time Crime Centers monitor the streets.[1] Surveillance cameras feed video monitors, sensors alert to unusual activities, automated license plate readers sc...

texaslawreview.org

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 10d

Folks need to be paying attention to the growth of Real-Time Crime Centers. It is not just NYC, but they tend to lead on these things. www.biometricupdate.com/202510/nypd-...

NYPD turns public housing Internet program into surveillance network | Biometric Update

Officers are now able to watch New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents through a live feed connected to NYPD’s Domain Awareness System (DAS).

www.biometricupdate.com

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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 10d

Analysis: For the first time, Amazon is adding facial recognition to its home security doorbells and video cameras.

The feature will be optional for Ring device owners.

Analysis | Amazon’s Ring plans to scan everyone’s face at the door

For the first time, the company is putting facial recognition into its home security doorbells and video cameras.

wapo.st

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 11d

Your Data Will Be Used Against You

Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 11d

NEW: ICE is planning to hire a team of nearly 30 people to surveil social media 24/7, build dossiers on people, and flag them for arrest and deportation. @dell.bsky.social has the scoop: www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

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Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 11d

NEW: ICE is planning to hire a team of nearly 30 people to surveil social media 24/7, build dossiers on people, and flag them for arrest and deportation. @dell.bsky.social has the scoop: www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 12d

Same

Mark Lemley @marklemley.bsky.social · 12d

@wired.com has been one of the remarkable bright spots of an otherwise embarrassing media (along with other upstarts like @theverge.com, @theguardian.com, and @teenvogue.com

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Mark Lemley @marklemley.bsky.social · 12d

@wired.com has been one of the remarkable bright spots of an otherwise embarrassing media (along with other upstarts like @theverge.com, @theguardian.com, and @teenvogue.com

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 12d

But see… “The Rise of Big Data Policing.” www.policechiefmagazine.org/quiet-revolu...

www.policechiefmagazine.org

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 13d

Kinda fascinating dispute. Self-surveillance camera network restricting access to police because of how police release footage. www.biometricupdate.com/202509/new-o...

New Orleans crime camera network limits police over video release policy | Biometric Update

The dispute stems from the Mayor’s directive allowing NOPD to release video footage to television production companies without the consent of the camera owners.

www.biometricupdate.com

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Truthout @truthout.org · 13d

Meta sent emails to 6 people informing them that ICE had served the company with a subpoena demanding extensive personal information about the users. The accounts, most notably StopIce.net, are part of a broader crowd-sourcing movement that works to publicly identify masked ICE agents.

Trump’s ICE Turns Its Target to Activists, Not Just Immigrants

ICE demanded Meta hand over personal information attached to Instagram accounts that track immigration raids.

buff.ly

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 13d

Excited to see “Digital Rummaging” get noticed by the always brilliant Professor Natalie Ram.

cyber.jotwell.com/rummaging-re...

Rummaging Rebooted - Technology Law

Andrew G. Ferguson, Digital Rummaging, 101 Wash. U. L. Rev. 1473 (2024). Andrew G. Ferguson, Everything-Everywhere Searches, _ G.W. J. of L. & Tech. _ (forthcoming), available at SSRN (Feb. 17, 2025)...

cyber.jotwell.com

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Jotwell @jotwell.bsky.social · 13d

Jotwell Techlaw:
Natalie Ram, Rummaging Rebooted, JOTWELL (September 3, 2025), cyber.jotwell.com/rummaging-re...

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson @profferguson.bsky.social · 14d

Not exactly a robust rejection of the term of art or the requirement that the government prove its claim.

Although, the defendant must have read my article. First raised in 2008! digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/aulr/vol57/i...

The "High-Crime Area" Question: Requiring Verifiable and Quantifiable Evidence for Fourth Amendment Reasonable Suspicion Analysis [pdf]

This article proposes a legal framework to analyze the "high crime area" concept in Fourth Amendment reasonable suspicion challenges. Under existing Supreme Court precedent, reviewing courts are allow...

digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu

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