Law Enforcement

One State May Become the First to Ban Law Enforcement Use of Genealogy Databases

A Utah state representative said he believes lawmakers are prepared to continue their “strong record of protecting individual privacy.”

  • By Emma Coleman

Body Cameras May Not Be the Easy Answer Everyone Was Looking For

Four states last year considered requiring police body cameras.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

5 Ways Technology Will Revolutionize Government in the 2020s

As we enter a new decade, these technological advancements will redefine what it means to be a citizen of the United States and the world. 

  • By Shaun Barry

Facebook's Push for End-to-End Encryption Is Good News for User Privacy, as Well as Terrorists and Paedophiles

Every decision has tradeoffs.

  • By Roberto Musotto and David S. Wall, The Conversation

FBI Unites Traditional Techniques with Tech-Driven Applications to Solve Today’s Crimes

A top official recently reflected on how insiders are transforming old-school approaches to tackle advanced cyber crimes.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Lawmakers Propose Bill Limiting Government's Use of Facial Recognition

The legislation would require law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before conducting facial recognition surveillance.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Did Body Cameras Backfire?

Body cameras were supposed to fix a broken system. What happened?

  • By Sidney Fussell, The Atlantic

The Endless Aerial Surveillance of the Border

New reports suggest that drone activity at the southern border is spreading to nearby cities, erasing the line between police procedures and immigration enforcement.

  • By Sidney Fussell, The Atlantic

New Tech Promises to Stop Drones from Overflying Stadiums — and Find the People Flying Them

Raytheon says its products helped police nab four flying drones over an outdoor concert.

  • By Marcus Weisgerber, Defense One

DOJ Makes Another Plea for Encryption Backdoors

While officials have long framed end-to-end encryption as an impediment to fighting terrorism, the department is now focusing on its impacts on child sex abuse.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Attorney General, DHS Secretary Call on Facebook to Build Encryption Backdoors

“Security enhancements to the virtual world should not make us more vulnerable in the physical world,” they said in a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Legacy Systems Held DHS' Biometrics Programs Back. Not Anymore.

The cloud-based HART system, which will house data on hundreds of millions of people, promises to significantly expand the department’s use of facial recognition and other biometric software, as well as its partnerships with external agencies.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Fighting Cyber Crime is Critical for National Security, Says Secret Service Chief

While election interference, espionage and power grid threats get all the attention, nation-states also lean on cyber criminals to conduct operations on their behalf, according to Director James Murray.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Six U.S. Cities Make the List of Most Surveilled Places in the World

A new report found that CCTV surveillance is increasing in certain areas of the U.S., with one city government watching its citizens from 35,000 cameras.

  • By Emma Coleman

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In the Deepfake Era, Counterterrorism Is Harder

After failing to detect the 9/11 plot, spy agencies reinvented themselves for an age of terrorism, but a new generation of technological threats requires a new round of reforms.

  • By Amy Zegart, The Atlantic

Study: More than Half of Americans Trust Law Enforcement to Use Facial Recognition Responsibly

Pew Research Center’s study is the latest to conclude Americans are growing more comfortable with having their faces scanned.

  • By Frank Konkel

Justice Indicts 80 People In International Nigerian Email Scam

The fraud ring—allegedly led by U.S.-based Nigerian nationals—was working $46 million in email, romance and other schemes when law enforcement pounced.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Military Scientists Harness AI To Fight Synthetic Opioids

A DIA group that scans millions of websites is overwhelming law enforcement with solid tips.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Coordinated Ransomware Attack in Texas Seen as Escalation From Prior Hacks

Twenty-three local governments were attacked over the weekend. The willingness of city governments to pay ransoms may be emboldening opportunistic hackers, security experts warn.

  • By Andrea Noble

FBI Wants Tech to Track Social Media for Criminals and Terrorists Before They Act

Proposals from interested vendors are due later this month.

  • By Brandi Vincent

The Hidden Challenges in Police Use of Facial Recognition Technology

The Orlando Police Department ended its pilot program involving facial recognition technology this month, saying the agency was unable to devote the necessary resources to the program.

  • By Andrea Noble