Law Enforcement

Helping Police Divert Mental Health Patients From ERs

A start-up wants to use a mobile app to allow clinicians and case workers to do remote patient evaluations when law enforcement officers respond to mental health calls.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Why the Amazon Pushback Is Also About Immigrants

After the HQ2 cancellation in Queens, Amazon’s connections to federal immigration enforcement are drawing scrutiny and criticism in other cities, too.

  • By Tanvi Misra and Sarah Holder, CityLab

FAA Wants to Protect First Responders from Drone Bombs

Under a new ruling, law enforcement officers would be able to identify drones from afar.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Amazon Proposes Facial Recognition Guidelines to Policymakers

The company called for “open, honest and earnest dialogue” instead of a ban.

  • By Frank Konkel

While You're Watching Super Bowl LIII, DHS and Atlanta Will Be Watching You

Federal and local law enforcement are combining efforts—and technology assets—to secure the biggest sport event of the year.

  • By Aaron Boyd

The Wheels of Justice Are Grinding to a Halt

FBI agents say the government shutdown is costing them confidential sources, postponing indictments, and shutting down investigations.

  • By Natasha Bertrand, The Atlantic

Amazon Shareholders Move to Stop Selling Facial Recognition Tech to Government Agencies

A group of shareholders filed a resolution to halt sales until they can consider the tech’s societal impact.

  • By Aaron Boyd

FBI Agents Say the Shutdown Is a Threat to National Security

Nearly 5,000 FBI special agents, intelligence analysts, attorneys, and professional staff have been furloughed.

  • By Natasha Bertrand, The Atlantic

Survey: Americans Warming to Use of Facial Recognition Tech

Americans do not favor strict limits on facial recognition technology, according to a new national survey.

  • By Frank Konkel

The FBI is Trying Amazon’s Facial-Recognition Software

The software allows the FBI to go through video surveillance footage much faster than agents can.

  • By Frank Konkel

State Department Is Buying Phone Hacking Tools for Ghanaian Police

The department issued a solicitation for specific hacking tools, which it plans to give to partners in Ghana to stem international crime.

  • By Aaron Boyd

The DEA Is Hiding Surveillance Cameras in Vacuum Cleaners

This is likely for a specific operation.

  • By Justin Rohrlich, Quartz

Who’s Tracking Your License Plate?

Automated license plate readers are collecting and sharing tons of data across state lines, according to records from nearly 200 police departments nationwide.

  • By Tanvi Misra, CityLab

Lawmakers Want Better Answers from Amazon About Facial Matching Program

As law enforcement agencies experiment with the tech, lawmakers push for details about accuracy and privacy.

  • By Heather Kuldell

FBI Issues Timeline for $5 Billion IT Contract Solicitation

The bureau’s ITSSS contract has gone through a lot of changes recently but officials expect to have the draft and final RFPs out early next year.

  • By Aaron Boyd

New U.S. Secret Service Lapel Pins Will Come with a Secret Security Feature

It's more than just a pin.

  • By Justin Rohrlich

FBI’s Counterterrorism Investigations Now Run on Amazon

The FBI is the latest intelligence agency to partner with Amazon Web Services.

  • By Frank Konkel

Postal Service's Informed Delivery Feature Could Be Helping Fraudsters

A new way to steal credit cards.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

How Baltimore and Tulsa Are Using Data to Foster Community

“The great thing people need to understand about data—and this was the incorrect understanding I had at first—is it is not about efficiency,” said Tulsa’s mayor.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

The DEA And ICE Are Hiding Surveillance Cameras In Streetlights

It’s unclear where the streetlight cameras have been installed, or where the next deployments will take place.

  • By Dave Gershgorn and Justin Rohrlich, Quartz