Byron Tau
@byrontau.bsky.social
investigative reporter in washington for the ap
formers: wsj, politico, notus. author of 'means of control,' a new book on big data and big government. buy: https://bit.ly/buyMoC
signal: byrontau.01
twitter/linkedin/mastodon: byrontau
formers: wsj, politico, notus. author of 'means of control,' a new book on big data and big government. buy: https://bit.ly/buyMoC
signal: byrontau.01
twitter/linkedin/mastodon: byrontau
Reposted by Byron Tau
New: The FBI filed a subpoena trying to unmask the person or people behind archive.is / archive.today, which have been running anonymously for 13 yrs. Site was widely used by GamerGate, and then to bypass paywalls but has become kind of core archiving infrastructure
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
FBI Tries to Unmask Owner of Infamous Archive.is Site
The FBI has subpoenaed the domain registrar of archive.today, demanding information about the owner.
www.404media.co
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
New: The FBI filed a subpoena trying to unmask the person or people behind archive.is / archive.today, which have been running anonymously for 13 yrs. Site was widely used by GamerGate, and then to bypass paywalls but has become kind of core archiving infrastructure
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
AP INVESTIGATION: For decades, the US government allowed and even helped US firms sell tech used for surveillance in China — enacting a loophole-ridden export control regime that failed to accomplish its big goals. By @garanceburke.bsky.social, @dakekang.bsky.social & me.
apnews.com/article/chin...
apnews.com/article/chin...
US government allowed and even helped US firms sell tech used for surveillance in China, AP finds
Even while warning about national security and human rights abuse, the U.S. government across five Republican and Democratic administrations has repeatedly allowed and even actively helped American fi...
apnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
AP INVESTIGATION: For decades, the US government allowed and even helped US firms sell tech used for surveillance in China — enacting a loophole-ridden export control regime that failed to accomplish its big goals. By @garanceburke.bsky.social, @dakekang.bsky.social & me.
apnews.com/article/chin...
apnews.com/article/chin...
Reposted by Byron Tau
Recording of recent talk with @byrontau.bsky.social on "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State" (2024). Discussion bridges investigative journalism, critical media studies, + surveillance studies! www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT3s...
Means of Control, Byron Tau book talk and discussion
YouTube video by Patrick Smith
www.youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Recording of recent talk with @byrontau.bsky.social on "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State" (2024). Discussion bridges investigative journalism, critical media studies, + surveillance studies! www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT3s...
Reposted by Byron Tau
Just a reminder that this event with @byrontau.bsky.social is coming up soon: Wednesday, October 15 at 3pm GMT
Pleased to announce this talk with @byrontau.bsky.social on his recent book "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State." You can register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/means-of-c...
Means of Control, book talk and discussion with Byron Tau
Byron Tau on his recent book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Just a reminder that this event with @byrontau.bsky.social is coming up soon: Wednesday, October 15 at 3pm GMT
Reposted by Byron Tau
Pleased to announce this talk with @byrontau.bsky.social on his recent book "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State." You can register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/means-of-c...
Means of Control, book talk and discussion with Byron Tau
Byron Tau on his recent book Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Pleased to announce this talk with @byrontau.bsky.social on his recent book "Means of Control: How the Hidden Alliance of Tech and Government is Creating a New American Surveillance State." You can register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/means-of-c...
A blockbuster AP investigation from @dakekang.bsky.social and @yaelwrites.com finds that US tech companies designed and built China’s repressive surveillance state trapping tens of thousands of ordinary Chinese citizens in a digital cage. apnews.com/article/chin...
US tech companies enabled the surveillance and detention of hundreds of thousands in China
U.S. technology firms such as IBM, Dell and Cisco largely designed and built China’s surveillance state, an AP investigation finds. The tech companies deny wrongdoing.
apnews.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:57 PM
A blockbuster AP investigation from @dakekang.bsky.social and @yaelwrites.com finds that US tech companies designed and built China’s repressive surveillance state trapping tens of thousands of ordinary Chinese citizens in a digital cage. apnews.com/article/chin...
Tremendous reporting from Joel Schectman and Aruna Viswanatha in the @wsj.com on how Pentagon pranks, coverups and in some cases deliberate disinformation fed to American citizens fueled interest in UFOs.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology
U.S. military fabricated evidence of alien technology and allowed rumors to fester to cover up real secret-weapons programs.
www.wsj.com
June 9, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Tremendous reporting from Joel Schectman and Aruna Viswanatha in the @wsj.com on how Pentagon pranks, coverups and in some cases deliberate disinformation fed to American citizens fueled interest in UFOs.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Also if you're interested, I wrote a book about this:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
May 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Also if you're interested, I wrote a book about this:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321...
Reposted by Byron Tau
Hm, sounds uncomfortably familiar. Makes me think of @byrontau.bsky.social's Means of Control.
Means of Control by Byron Tau: 9780593443224 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
You are being surveilled right now. This “startling exposé” (The Economist) reveals how the U.S. government allied with data brokers, tech companies, and advertisers to monitor us through...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
May 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Hm, sounds uncomfortably familiar. Makes me think of @byrontau.bsky.social's Means of Control.
New intelligence community-run portal will be a "one stop shop" for commercially available information. This includes information on your car, your phone, your Bluetooth headphones, your purchases -- sold by corporations and bought by governments.
theintercept.com/2025/05/22/i...
theintercept.com/2025/05/22/i...
U.S. Spy Agencies Are Getting a One-Stop Shop to Buy Your Most Sensitive Personal Data
The government wants to build a centralized platform where spy agencies can more easily buy private info about millions of people.
theintercept.com
May 28, 2025 at 2:20 PM
New intelligence community-run portal will be a "one stop shop" for commercially available information. This includes information on your car, your phone, your Bluetooth headphones, your purchases -- sold by corporations and bought by governments.
theintercept.com/2025/05/22/i...
theintercept.com/2025/05/22/i...
Trump ordered an investigation into the Democrat's online fundraising machine ActBlue, yet his own campaign finance records show similar issues with unverified donors and possible illegal foreign money. apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump targeted Democrats over questionable online fundraising. His campaign has similar issues
When President Donald Trump directed his attorney general last month to investigate campaign fundraising, he cited concerns that foreigners and “malign actors” were laundering illegal contributions to...
apnews.com
May 27, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Trump ordered an investigation into the Democrat's online fundraising machine ActBlue, yet his own campaign finance records show similar issues with unverified donors and possible illegal foreign money. apnews.com/article/trum...
Reposted by Byron Tau
I very much recommend Means of Control by @byrontau.bsky.social.
Well researched and eye opening. Renewed a sense of urgency in me regarding #privacy matters.
www.byrontau.com/means-of-con...
Well researched and eye opening. Renewed a sense of urgency in me regarding #privacy matters.
www.byrontau.com/means-of-con...
Means of Control | ByronTau
www.byrontau.com
May 6, 2025 at 3:11 AM
I very much recommend Means of Control by @byrontau.bsky.social.
Well researched and eye opening. Renewed a sense of urgency in me regarding #privacy matters.
www.byrontau.com/means-of-con...
Well researched and eye opening. Renewed a sense of urgency in me regarding #privacy matters.
www.byrontau.com/means-of-con...
For the past few weeks, a wire has snaked out of the open window of the GSA administrator's office and onto the roof, where it connects to a Starlink terminal
A look at the very Muskian takeover of the chokepoint of federal tech, real estate and contracts. apnews.com/article/doge...
A look at the very Muskian takeover of the chokepoint of federal tech, real estate and contracts. apnews.com/article/doge...
Elon Musk installed his top lieutenants at a federal agency you probably haven't heard of
The General Services Administration has a key role in the Trump administration’s quest to slash costs and bring the federal government to heel.
apnews.com
April 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
For the past few weeks, a wire has snaked out of the open window of the GSA administrator's office and onto the roof, where it connects to a Starlink terminal
A look at the very Muskian takeover of the chokepoint of federal tech, real estate and contracts. apnews.com/article/doge...
A look at the very Muskian takeover of the chokepoint of federal tech, real estate and contracts. apnews.com/article/doge...
AP’s exclusion from the White House over its refusal to use the term Gulf of America "has been contrary to the First Amendment" and U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden (Trump appointee) "enjoins the Government from continuing down that unlawful path" storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
April 8, 2025 at 9:12 PM
AP’s exclusion from the White House over its refusal to use the term Gulf of America "has been contrary to the First Amendment" and U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden (Trump appointee) "enjoins the Government from continuing down that unlawful path" storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
21 DOGE staffers resign rather than help use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services," according to a resignation letter obtained by the AP.
Musk has largely tried to keep technical talent at DOGE, mostly laying off designers & product managers.
apnews.com/article/doge...
Musk has largely tried to keep technical talent at DOGE, mostly laying off designers & product managers.
apnews.com/article/doge...
21 federal technology staffers resign rather than help Musk and DOGE slash size of government
Twenty-one civil service employees have resigned from billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, saying they're refusing to use their technical expertise to “dismantle ...
apnews.com
February 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
21 DOGE staffers resign rather than help use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services," according to a resignation letter obtained by the AP.
Musk has largely tried to keep technical talent at DOGE, mostly laying off designers & product managers.
apnews.com/article/doge...
Musk has largely tried to keep technical talent at DOGE, mostly laying off designers & product managers.
apnews.com/article/doge...
I am currently writing about DOGE and what it is doing with its vast access to federal computer systems and databases. If you are a current or former federal employee or contractor with insight, I am best reached on Signal at byrontau.01.
February 12, 2025 at 1:49 AM
I am currently writing about DOGE and what it is doing with its vast access to federal computer systems and databases. If you are a current or former federal employee or contractor with insight, I am best reached on Signal at byrontau.01.
New from me: DeepSeek has code in its user login system that could send user data to a sanctioned Chinese state-owned telecom that in 2019 was barred from operating in the United States, according to Feroot Security. apnews.com/article/deep...
Researchers say China's DeepSeek chatbot is linked to state telecom, raising data privacy concerns
Security researchers say the website of the Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek has computer code that could send some user login information to a Chinese state-owned telecommunications c...
apnews.com
February 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
New from me: DeepSeek has code in its user login system that could send user data to a sanctioned Chinese state-owned telecom that in 2019 was barred from operating in the United States, according to Feroot Security. apnews.com/article/deep...
The number of crews abandoned at sea by ship owners is growing, leaving more sailors stuck at sea or abandoned in port. By @helenwieffering.bsky.social apnews.com/article/inte...
Fleet of abandoned ships is growing, leaving more sailors stuck at sea
More ships than ever are being abandoned around the world by their owners, according to the United Nations’ labor and maritime organizations, leaving thousands of workers stuck on board without pay or...
apnews.com
February 3, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The number of crews abandoned at sea by ship owners is growing, leaving more sailors stuck at sea or abandoned in port. By @helenwieffering.bsky.social apnews.com/article/inte...
Reposted by Byron Tau
Do you work at Meta? How is it going? Would love to hear from you -- Signal (646)378-8843 or [email protected] if you have anything to share, anonymity protected as always.
January 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Do you work at Meta? How is it going? Would love to hear from you -- Signal (646)378-8843 or [email protected] if you have anything to share, anonymity protected as always.
Reposted by Byron Tau
A mysterious meeting with Syrian president is at the center of spy chief’s nomination fight by @byrontau.bsky.social.
apnews.com/article/tuls...
apnews.com/article/tuls...
A mysterious meeting with Syrian president is at the center of spy chief's nomination fight
Questions continue to dog Tulsi Gabbard about a mysterious 2017 trip to Syria. The trip has gained new salience since President Donald Trump nominated the former Democratic lawmaker to be the nation's...
apnews.com
January 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A mysterious meeting with Syrian president is at the center of spy chief’s nomination fight by @byrontau.bsky.social.
apnews.com/article/tuls...
apnews.com/article/tuls...
For federal employees (or anyone) who wants to speak to a reporter about what's unfolding about their agencies, the Associated Press investigative team can be reached here: [email protected] or www.ap.org/tips/
I am byrontau.01 on Signal.
I am byrontau.01 on Signal.
News tips | The Associated Press
www.ap.org
January 29, 2025 at 8:36 PM
For federal employees (or anyone) who wants to speak to a reporter about what's unfolding about their agencies, the Associated Press investigative team can be reached here: [email protected] or www.ap.org/tips/
I am byrontau.01 on Signal.
I am byrontau.01 on Signal.
Reposted by Byron Tau
A reminder: Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected] or www.ap.org/tips/
News tips | The Associated Press
www.ap.org
January 29, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A reminder: Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected] or www.ap.org/tips/
Things appear to be going well inside federal agencies.
January 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Things appear to be going well inside federal agencies.
Browsing the definitive U.S. contracting database now requires logging in, providing your address and subjecting your searches of said database to potential U.S. government review per a new software change confirmed today by journalist Jack Poulson. jackpoulson.substack.com/p/the-us-gov...
The U.S. Government silently sabotaged anonymous public access to billions of dollars of military AI contracts
The entire category of 'Other Transaction' contracts heavily used for Pentagon AI now silently requires a Login.gov account and an agreement to be surveilled.
jackpoulson.substack.com
January 27, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Browsing the definitive U.S. contracting database now requires logging in, providing your address and subjecting your searches of said database to potential U.S. government review per a new software change confirmed today by journalist Jack Poulson. jackpoulson.substack.com/p/the-us-gov...
Reposted by Byron Tau
January 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM