Law-Enforcement Officials Expand Use of Tools Such as Spyware as People Under Investigation ‘Go Dark,’ Evading Wiretaps: “The FBI develops some hacking tools internally and purchases others from the private sector. With such technology, the bureau can remotely activate the microphones in phones running Google Inc.’s Android software to record conversations, one former U.S. official said. It can do the same to microphones in laptops without the user knowing, the person said. Google declined to comment.The bureau typically uses hacking in cases involving organized crime, child pornography or counterterrorism, a former U.S. official said. It is loath to use these tools when investigating hackers, out of fear the suspect will discover and publicize the technique, the person said.”
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Daily Archives: August 2, 2013
Infographic – Student Debt on Borrowed Time
Shahien Nasiripour and Jan Diehm – via Huffington Post: College students and their families are set to enjoy lower borrowing costs this fall at the expense of future borrowers under a measure approved by Congress and to be signed into law by President Barack Obama. The proposal overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday with nearly 400 votes.… Continue Reading
What is Gluten-Free? FDA Has an Answer
“People with celiac disease can now have confidence in the meaning of a “gluten-free” label on foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule that defines what characteristics a food has to have to bear a label that proclaims it “gluten- free.” The rule also holds foods labeled “without gluten,” “free of… Continue Reading
BLS – July payroll employment increases; unemployment rate edges down
Employment Situation Summary, July 2013 “Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 162,000 in July, and the unemployment rate edged down to 7.4 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment rose in retail trade, food services and drinking places, financial activities, and wholesale trade. Household Survey Data Both the number of unemployed persons,… Continue Reading
AP – USPS photographs each piece of mail processed
AP – “The Postal Service takes pictures of every piece of mail processed in the United States — 160 billion last year — and keeps them on hand for up to a month.” Continue Reading
Study – Warmer climate strongly affects human conflict and violence worldwide
News release: “The study, which includes more data than prior research in this field and covers all major regions of the globe, shows the Earth’s climate plays a more influential role in human affairs than previously thought. The results were published (Thursday, Aug. 1) in the journal Science. The authors found similar patterns of conflict around the… Continue Reading
