The hottest Surveillance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Whatever the Spook State Wants...

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 115 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Surveillance Legislation Civil Liberties National Security Political Reforms
  1. There's a concern about how the government can collect data from everyday Americans without a warrant. This is done through something called 'incidental collection,' which means they can gather information without specifically targeting someone.
  2. Politicians like Speaker Mike Johnson seem to change their views on surveillance after receiving private briefings. It raises questions about accountability and whether they truly represent the people's concerns after such meetings.
  3. Tulsi Gabbard, once an opponent of domestic surveillance, has shifted her stance. There are hints that lobbying from the GOP influenced her change, calling into question how much power lobbyists have over our leaders' decisions.

CEO of Gig-work Surveillance Firm Resigns

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 752 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
💼 Business Tech Surveillance Leadership Finance Legal
  1. CEO of Gig-work Surveillance Firm, Maury Blackman, resigned after years of court battles and exposure of clandestine surveillance.
  2. Premise Data, an analogue of Uber for data-gathering, faced revenue stagnation despite investments and high-profile board members.
  3. Blackman's resignation led to Matt McNabb taking over as CEO, revealing a history of controversial events and legal issues within Premise.

What We Learned in 2024

The Corbett Report • 20 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Elections Surveillance Media Public Health Conspiracy
  1. The president doesn't actually run the country; there's a deeper system of power behind the scenes. It's important to understand who really makes decisions.
  2. The truth eventually comes out, even after being hidden for a long time. This year made it clear that misinformation can eventually be challenged and corrected.
  3. There is now a shift where 'alternative' media is becoming more mainstream. People are turning away from traditional media sources and exploring new ways to get information.

Mysteries at the Top of Sky and at the Bottom of the Swamp: Drones, Barbarians and Gatekeepers (Part One)

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 27 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Security Defense Surveillance Government International relations
  1. There are many mysterious drone sightings happening all over the world, especially close to sensitive areas like military bases and nuclear sites. This raises questions about who is operating these drones and why they are flying in these restricted airspaces.
  2. The U.S. government's lack of response or clarity about these drone activities seems strange. It leads people to wonder if there is more going on that the public isn't being told, or if they fear that acknowledging these threats could escalate tensions with foreign nations.
  3. Some theories suggest the drones might be linked to foreign powers or even covert government operations. This uncertainty leaves local authorities frustrated and worried about potential dangers.
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Germany announces wide-ranging plans to restrict the speech, travel and economic activity of political dissidents, in order to better control the "thought and speech patterns" of its own people

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 493 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Government Censorship Political Opposition Surveillance Democracy
  1. Germany is implementing wide-ranging measures to restrict speech, travel, and economic activity of political dissidents to control the thought patterns of its people.
  2. The political establishment in Germany is using strategies to maintain power, including targeting opposition groups like Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
  3. The government in Germany is expanding its control over dissent by planning to use various tools like financial investigations, travel restrictions, and internet censorship to combat right-wing extremism.

Fort Meade's new contract monitoring Twitter

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 854 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Surveillance Social media Government Intelligence
  1. Defense Information Systems Agency has a new $2.5 million social media surveillance contract with Dataminr.
  2. Dataminr, associated with Twitter, has been careful to avoid the 'surveillance' label and instead presents itself as an 'alerting' platform.
  3. Despite past commitments, Dataminr continues to provide access to social media data for surveillance purposes.

Hello and an Update

Zero Day • 1283 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
📰 News Journalism Surveillance Government Surveillance
  1. Kim Zetter is working on various projects that are taking longer than expected.
  2. She is co-teaching a course about government surveillance and classified leaks at Johns Hopkins SAIS.
  3. Students in the course show a deep understanding of surveillance nuances and the importance of balancing security with civil liberties.

Mysteries at the Top of Sky and at the Bottom of the Swamp: Drones, Barbarians and Gatekeepers (Part Two)

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast • 24 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Technology Surveillance Defense Public Policy
  1. There's a lot of strange stuff happening with drones and UAPs. Sometimes, it seems like electronics go haywire when these drones show up, which is unusual.
  2. The government seems to have a plan to flood the skies with drones to confuse people. If they shoot something down, it’ll be hard to tell if it was a drone or an alien craft.
  3. There's a worry that the government is stifling new tech companies to keep their secrets safe. Some believe they might be hiding advanced technologies from the public.

Drones: Panic Or Perception?

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 21 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Drones Security Innovation Surveillance Public Perception
  1. The public often overreacts to drone presence, which can cause unnecessary panic. It's important to look at the facts and not just the fear surrounding drones.
  2. Individual analysis of situations like drones is crucial rather than relying solely on popular opinion. People should make their own informed decisions based on evidence.
  3. Understanding the situation surrounding drones requires careful examination of the evidence rather than following what others say or think.

Admist uncertain merger with Woz's Privateer Space, Orbital Insight CEO Kevin O'Brien bails to cryptocurrency surveillance firm Chainalysis

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 366 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology Cryptocurrency Finance Surveillance Investments
  1. Orbital Insight CEO Kevin O'Brien moved to the cryptocurrency surveillance firm Chainalysis, leaving behind the collapse and financial struggles of Orbital.
  2. Orbital Insight faced challenges leading to financial decline, including defaulting on rent, a nonfunctional main phone line, and failed attempts at a merger with Privateer Space.
  3. Despite substantial funding and strategic partnerships, Orbital's downfall was partially attributed to market changes, such as Apple's privacy measures affecting their commercial data analysis business.

The Pentagon is moving its whistleblower-hunting system to Palantir's cloud

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 529 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Whistleblowers Defense Counterintelligence Surveillance
  1. The Pentagon is transferring its whistleblower-hunting system to Palantir's cloud.
  2. Palantir's Gotham software has been crucial in assisting the Pentagon in finding whistleblowers.
  3. The U.S. military views whistleblowers as insider threats, with Palantir playing a key role in identifying them.

i-SOON Leak: Unanswered Questions and What Now?

Natto Thoughts • 79 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Government Hacking Surveillance
  1. Chinese hacker groups have historically displayed poor operations security, making mistakes and leaving evidence, despite successfully targeting critical infrastructure.
  2. The leaked i-SOON documents reveal the extensive involvement of private cyber security companies in China, indicating the government's reliance on external expertise.
  3. The effectiveness of the 'name-and-shame' strategy in compelling or deterring behavior of exposed Chinese threat actors appears limited, as seen with cases like Chengdu 404 and Goldsun.

i-SOON: Another Company in the APT41 Network

Natto Thoughts • 219 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Hacking Surveillance Malware
  1. A lawsuit revealed potential business ties between Chengdu 404 linked to APT41 and Sichuan i-SOON, shedding light on the ecosystem of IT companies in which these hackers operate.
  2. Sichuan i-SOON has strong connections with universities, offers training programs, and possesses qualifications to work for state security, raising questions about its potential involvement in APT activities.
  3. The similarities between Sichuan i-SOON and Chengdu 404, along with i-SOON's capabilities in surveillance-related technologies, suggest a possible link to APT41 activities and other Chinese APT groups like RedHotel/Earth Lusca.

How to Get Your Tax Cattle to LOVE Digital ID

The Corbett Report • 21 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Authoritarianism Surveillance Political division
  1. Digital IDs are being pushed as a way to control and monitor people's actions, starting with tracking and eventually influencing how they buy or sell things. It's about creating a system where everyone is accounted for.
  2. Different approaches are used to convince both left- and right-wing individuals to accept digital IDs. For some, it’s about safety and security, while for others, it plays on fears related to immigration or children’s safety online.
  3. The idea of a digital ID is presented as something beneficial, but it can lead to increased government control and restrictions. There's a fear of losing individual freedom and privacy if everyone accepts these IDs.

Israel Is Field-Testing Autonomous Weapons, Cops and Pre-Crime News, Congressional Trading Fun

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 55 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Surveillance Law enforcement International relations
  1. Israel is using autonomous weapons that can operate without human control. This raises concerns about accountability for their actions.
  2. Weapons tested on Palestinians are being developed for global markets, increasing demand for Israeli military technology.
  3. There are troubling ties between police actions and corporate interests, highlighting how law enforcement can be used to serve business goals.

Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 05.01.2025

steigan.no • 8 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Elections Surveillance Diplomacy Political Analysis
  1. Modern surveillance technology is getting very sophisticated, and it's not just governments but also private companies that misuse these tools. People should be aware of how their data can be monitored.
  2. Amid rising tensions, there's talk about military action against Iran's nuclear program. It's crucial to understand the implications of such actions and their potential fallout.
  3. Israel is increasing its global influence funding significantly, especially in response to growing international criticism. This signals a push to improve its image during ongoing conflicts.

Lockheed is now tracking phones and walkie-talkies from space, and the UAE military is allegedly a "strong" customer

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 344 HN points • 18 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Space Surveillance Military Satellites
  1. Lockheed Martin and HawkEye 360 are partnering to track phones and walkie-talkies from space
  2. The UAE military is reportedly a significant customer of this phone tracking technology
  3. HawkEye 360's satellite surveillance capabilities extend to monitoring electromagnetic emissions worldwide

The FIRST law Elon Musk and DOGE should ask Donald Trump to dump

Unreported Truths • 54 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Law Corporate Surveillance Rights
  1. A new law requires companies to report their owners' information to the government. Many people think this is a bad idea because it expands government control.
  2. A judge recently ruled that this reporting requirement could be unconstitutional. He said it goes against the principles of how states manage corporate laws.
  3. Business owners could face big fines if they don’t comply with these rules. If the government doesn't drop the appeal against this ruling, many people will be unhappy.

German domestic intelligence services disclose their extensive surveillance of former CDU politician Hans-Georg Maaßen for his criticism of globalism, the Green Party, mass migration and state media

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 159 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Surveillance
  1. Former CDU politician Hans-Georg Maaßen is under extensive surveillance for criticizing globalism, the Green Party, mass migration, and state media.
  2. German domestic intelligence services are closely monitoring Maaßen's activities, including his social media posts and press statements.
  3. Criticism of the government, Greens, mass migration, and state media can lead to being labeled a 'right-wing extremist' and attract attention from political police.

🎧 Technically Optimistic Podcast: Season Two

Technically Optimistic • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jun 24
🎙 Podcasts Tech Data Privacy Social media Surveillance
  1. Season Two of Technically Optimistic Podcast dives into the topic of data privacy and control.
  2. Episodes discuss how our behavior online is used as a valuable resource, the impact of digital surveillance on reproductive rights, and the use of data in influencing voters.
  3. The podcast explores the concerns around online tracking of children, the evolving data economy in South Asia, and the implications of facial recognition technology in law enforcement.

German domestic intelligence services are now targeting political dissidents considered guilty of "delegitimising" the state, in yet another ominous development reminiscent of the DDR

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 113 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Surveillance Authoritarianism
  1. German domestic intelligence services are targeting political dissidents for 'delegitimising' the state, resembling oppressive practices of the past.
  2. The concept of 'Delegitimisation of the State' has been introduced, restricting certain political dissent akin to past authoritarian regimes.
  3. Criticism and comparisons between the Federal Republic and the DDR are now being monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).

Cold War 2023

Stove Top • 117 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Telecommunications Espionage Cybersecurity AI Surveillance
  1. Huawei is accused of being a piece of Chinese spyware with ties to government and espionage.
  2. France is taking extreme measures against encryption, raising concerns about privacy and government surveillance.
  3. Consuming true crime content raises complex questions on its impact on mental health and society, with discussions on privacy and ethical concerns.

The Covert Gig-Work Surveillance CEO Arrested for Felony Domestic Violence

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 223 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
💼 Business Crime Technology Podcasts Surveillance Legal
  1. CEO of Premise Data, Maury Blackman, was arrested for felony domestic violence after a Christmas party.
  2. The incident involving the CEO and his girlfriend was not publicly reported as the victim recanted her initial statements.
  3. Premise Data, Blackman's company, has been accused of covert surveillance activities for U.S. defense and intelligence agencies.

Surveillance firm backed by Google and CIA allegedly defaulted on $370,000 per month rent

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 203 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
💼 Business Surveillance Tech Finance Government Security
  1. Orbital Insight, a surveillance firm backed by Google and CIA, allegedly defaulted on $370,000 per month rent
  2. Orbital Insight was sued by its landlord and subtenants for failing to pay rent for its Silicon Valley HQ
  3. The company had significant investments, including from Google Ventures and the U.S. Intelligence Community

CNN and NY Times help US gov’t lie about spying on Americans

Geopolitical Economy Report • 318 implied HN points • 04 May 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Media Surveillance Censorship Immigration
  1. CNN and the New York Times aided the US government in spreading false information about not monitoring American citizens despite documented evidence of surveillance on journalists and protesters.
  2. Top media outlets like CNN and the New York Times amplified lies from the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, regarding the creation of a 'Disinformation Governance Board' intended for censoring supposed threats to national security.
  3. Despite factual reports revealing years of surveillance on American citizens by the DHS, major media sources did not challenge the false claims made by DHS officials, contributing to the dissemination of misleading information.

Life is imperfect

imperfect offerings • 79 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🕹 Technology EdTech AI Surveillance Content creation
  1. Life is imperfect - The message shared is about life's imperfections and how it plays out in different settings, emphasizing the need to navigate through challenges.
  2. Criticism in edtech - Discussion on the critique of ed tech companies' practices, highlighting the need for addressing power imbalances and engaging with critical voices.
  3. Generative AI impact - Insights into how generative AI is affecting graduate employment, the restructuring of labor, and the broader impact on work routines and value.

The Construction of a Dictatorship in the United States

Christopher Falcon • 78 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Surveillance Civil Liberties Executive Power Democratic Values Constitutional Rights
  1. Technocratic totalitarianism is a government system where tech experts, not elected officials, make decisions for the population.
  2. The FISA courts, created by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, have been criticized for lack of transparency and potential constitutional rights breaches.
  3. The NDAA signed by Obama in 2012 allowed for indefinite detention of American citizens without trial, raising concerns about erosion of civil liberties.

Covert gigwork surveillance platform attempts to claw back disclosures of its intelligence clients

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 142 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Surveillance Legal Battles National Security
  1. Premise Data's CEO is trying to keep the names of the military and spy agencies the company works for a secret.
  2. There is a legal battle over disclosing intelligence clients, with requests for documents to be clawed back and redacted.
  3. The legal dispute involves claims of national security reasons and maintaining marketplace competitiveness for secrecy.

Farewell to the Safe Space

Technically Optimistic • 59 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Privacy AI Ethics Surveillance Data
  1. Utilizing AI for memory recall, like with Rewind AI, can be a beneficial tool for enhancing memory capabilities.
  2. There is a constant trade-off between personalization and privacy in the digital space, raising questions about the extent of data individuals are willing to share for customization.
  3. Emerging technologies such as surveillance devices and advanced software like Rewind AI prompt discussions on privacy expectations and the need for clear regulations to safeguard personal data.

We Are What We Click

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 04 Mar 21
🕹 Technology Privacy Surveillance Big Tech Data Mining Social media
  1. Big Tech companies collect and sell our online data, which makes them extremely wealthy and invades our privacy. It’s important to be aware of how much information we share online.
  2. Cookies and algorithms create 'filter bubbles' that limit our exposure to different views and ideas. This can lead to social isolation and political division.
  3. We can take steps to protect our privacy online, like blocking cookies and clearing our search history. However, government regulations are also needed to help keep our data safe.

Best Infosec-Related Long Reads for the Week of 2/3/24

Metacurity • 19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Security AI Surveillance
  1. London Underground is testing real-time AI surveillance tools to spot crime, a first for the transport body.
  2. AI is being used to generate alerts sent to frontline staff based on live video footage monitored by the system.
  3. Transport for London (TfL) operated the AI system at Willesden Green Tube station, which had 25,000 visitors per day before the pandemic.