Bill to Ban Undetectable 3-D Printed Guns Is Coming Back

Found on Wired on Monday, 06 April 2015
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Since Congressman Steve Israel first called for legislation that would ban 3-D printed guns, those plastic-printed firearms have evolved from a few simple components to a full one-shot pistol to rifles and multi-shot revolvers, with more advances on the horizon.

“My legislation is about making sure that we have laws in place to ensure that criminals and terrorists can’t produce guns that can easily be made undetectable. Security checkpoints will do little good if criminals can produce plastic firearms and bring those firearms through metal detectors into secure areas like airports or courthouses,” Israel wrote in a statement to WIRED.

Good thing that criminals and terrorists strictly obey the law.

FBI’s Plan to Expand Hacking Power Advances Despite Privacy Fears

Found on National Journal on Tuesday, 17 March 2015
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Such a change could threaten the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable search and seizures, they warn, and possibly allow the FBI to violate the sovereignty of foreign nations. The rule change also could let the agency simultaneously target millions of computers at once, even potentially those belonging to users who aren't suspected of any wrongdoing.

The proposal is now subject to review by the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, which normally can approve amendments at its June meeting. The Judicial Conference is next in line to approve the rule, a move that would likely occur in September.

If any other nation would do something similar, the US would instantly warn them not to mess with any technology in their jurisdiction, or face the consequences. With this holier-than-you attitude, they are isolating themselves more and more.

Quebec resident Alain Philippon to fight charge for not giving up phone password at airport

Found on CBCNews on Saturday, 07 March 2015
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Alain Philippon, 38, of Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., refused to divulge his cellphone password to Canada Border Services Agency during a customs search Monday night at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

He's been charged under section 153.1 (b) of the Customs Act for hindering or preventing border officers from performing their role under the act.

Giving away your phone or laptop password does not improve any airport security at all; it's just for snooping around and teaching the civilian the lesson that officials can do everything. Fortunately, for laptops there is a solution: an encrypted dual-boot system with a hidden OS, just like Truecryt offered it: depending on the password, the PC either boots your important OS, or another OS which will satisfy the curiosity of anybody else. That should be available for smartphones too.

Government Pays Up To Settle With Traveler Who Was Detained By TSA For Trying To Learn Arabic

Found on Techdirt on Monday, 26 January 2015
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George, who was flying out to California to start his senior year at Pomona College, was carrying with him two items that caught the screeners' attention: Arabic-language flash cards and a book critical of the US government.

Between the TSA's presumption that Arabic = terrorism and the PD's willingness to continue the ignorant farce, George was stuck in a rights-less limbo. As he points out, there's an ugliness inherent to the government's long-running security theater, one that crosses over to the law enforcement agencies who are asked to detain travelers.

That's why you stay away from the US and its thought police.

Man arrested after refusing to give camera to police at crash scene

Found on CNet News on Monday, 12 January 2015
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Though Flinchbaugh offered to give him a copy of the video, for reasons that are still unclear, the detective wanted the camera.

When the officer threatened him with arrest, the video shows that Flinchbaugh calmly said: "Then you're going to have to place me under arrest."

When it comes to filming the police in action, the Supreme Court is clear that, as long as you're not obstructing the police in performing their duties, you can film.

You would think that somebody tells the cops on the street what the current laws are.

Pirated music infiltrating US prisons, record label says

Found on Ars Technica on Friday, 09 January 2015
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Filed Tuesday, this suit claims that Keefe, its owner, and associated business units sell "care packages" of "various items that family members and friends can send to inmates who are incarcerated in correctional facilities." Besides various foodstuffs and even electronics, the packages might include mixtapes, according to the lawsuit.

Maybe the best solution would be to put them into prison. Oh wait...

State group defends officers' actions in teen shooting death

Found on WECT on Wednesday, 07 January 2015
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On Sunday, Keith Vidal's parents called police for help after they say the 18-year-old was suffering from a schizophrenic episode and was carrying a screwdriver in his hand. At the scene, Vidal's stepfather Mark Wilsey said an officer shot and killed his son after a confrontation at their home on President Drive.

The PBA release said the officers realized there was an immediate threat on Officer Thomas' life, so Detective Vassey "employed authorized law enforcement action to stop the continuing threat of deadly harm to Officer Thomas and others."

Wilsey said officers had his son down on the ground after the teen was tased a few times and an officer said, "we don't have time for this." That's when Wilsey says the officer shot in between the officers holding the teen down, killing his son.

Now a small screwdriver is considered a "deadly weapon" and justifies to kill a mentally challenged person who has been tasered and hold down. Maybe more cops should follow the NYPD and work less after complains about using too much violence.

United Airlines sues 22-year-old who found way to get cheaper plane tickets

Found on KDVR on Tuesday, 30 December 2014
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The idea is that you buy an airline ticket that has a layover at your actual destination. Say you want to fly from New York to San Francisco — you actually book a flight from New York to Lake Tahoe with a layover in San Francisco and get off there, without bothering to take the last leg of the flight.

In the lawsuit, United and Orbitz call Skiplagged “unfair competition” and allege that it is promoting “strictly prohibited” travel. They want to recoup $75,000 in lost revenue from Zaman.

So if it is prohibited, passengers should not be allowed to leave the plane or airport; but since they apparently can, it doesn't seem to be that illegal at all. If they need someone to blame it's the airline companies for offering such flights.

GCHQ warns serious criminals have been lost in wake of Edward Snowden leaks

Found on The Telegraph on Monday, 22 December 2014
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The spy agency has suffered “significant” damage in its ability to monitor and capture serious organised criminals following the exposes by the former CIA contractor.

In its aftermath, Andrew Parker, Director General of MI5, said the leaks had been a “gift” for terrorists that allowed them to attack the UK “at will”.

Sir John Sawer, then Chief of MI6, said the UK’s “adversaries are rubbing their hands with glee” while al Qaeda was “lapping it up”.

Such a FUD campaign. Maybe if GCHQ et al didn't went overboard and tried to spy on everybody this would not have happened. They broke laws (or at least bent them to the breaking points) and now have to face the results. Besides, if they know who the criminals are, they could as well just arrest them.

US government fingers North Korea as the Sony hackers

Found on Ars Technica on Thursday, 18 December 2014
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Speaking off the record, senior intelligence officials have told The New York Times, CNN, and other news agencies that North Korea was "centrally involved" in the hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).

The unnamed sources said that the White House was still deciding how to respond. With the damage done to SPE's reputation and the threats to the safety of Americans, some within the administration are reported to be in favor of direct confrontation.

Just like Iraq was "centrally involved".