Law Enforcement

Democrats, Republicans Both Want to Regulate Facial Recognition

If left unchecked, lawmakers worry the tech will infringe on Americans’ privacy and civil liberties, and perpetuate racial and gender discrimination in the criminal justice system.

  • By Jack Corrigan

ICE Seeks Tech To Track Electronic Devices—Even Through Time

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is soliciting for a cloud-based system that can geolocate devices using multiple sources, including apps.

  • By Aaron Boyd

One City’s Journey to Filing Complaints About Police Online

Austin, Texas, debuted an anonymous online feedback form that eases the process for residents to describe interactions they have with police officers

  • By Emma Coleman

NIST Is Staging An Armed Robbery To Improve Video Surveillance

Before researchers can test the latest video analytics, they need a variety of footage from different angles, conditions and recording quality.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Here Come AI-Enabled Cameras Meant to Sense Crime Before It Occurs

The future of video surveillance is about detecting not just faces, but behaviors.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

A DNA Company Wants You to Help Catch Criminals

Family Tree DNA was criticized for secretly working with the FBI. Now it’s explicitly asking potential customers to help law enforcement.

  • By Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic

Federal Taskforce Busts 61 Connected to Darknet Opioid Sales

Law enforcement officials seized more than $7 million and nearly 300 kilograms of drugs during the two-month operation.

  • By Brandi Vincent

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