The U.S. Border Patrol is engaging in a controversial predictive-intelligence program that monitors millions of American drivers, extending surveillance far beyond border regions. An in-depth investigation by the Associated Press has revealed a network of covert license-plate readers, often disguised in everyday objects like traffic cones, which feeds data into an algorithm designed to flag “suspicious” driving behaviors. This has led to local law enforcement being alerted and performing traffic stops for minor infractions, with many drivers being interrogated or even arrested despite the lack of any illicit activity.
Evidence obtained through public-record requests shows that Border Patrol agents, in collaboration with Texas deputies, are sharing sensitive information, including hotel records and social media details of U.S. citizens, while coordinating traffic stops they refer to as “whisper stops.” This covert approach aims to obscure federal involvement and has been observed at locations significantly distanced from the Mexican border, such as Phoenix and metropolitan Detroit. Legal experts have raised concerns about the program’s extensive reach, equating it to a “dragnet” that tracks citizens’ movements and daily lives.
In related news, Microsoft reported successfully thwarting a massive DDoS attack, as well as the SEC dropping its claims against SolarWinds over the 2020 hack. Furthermore, the FBI has come under scrutiny for surveilling a private Signal group utilized by immigration activists in New York, labeling them as potential threats despite no evidence of violent intentions. This heightened surveillance of lawful dissent continues to raise alarm among civil rights advocates regarding the potential infringement on freedoms of speech and assembly.
For more detailed coverage, refer to the original articles on these ongoing security and privacy issues:
