Category «Freedom of Information»

The Razor-Thin Line Between Conspiracy Theory and Actual Conspiracy

The Atlantic – no paywall – The Razor-Thin Line Between Conspiracy Theory and Actual Conspiracy – “A conversation with Julie K. Brown, the investigative reporter who knows more than almost anyone else about Jeffrey Epstein…The Epstein saga hits on practically every theme of every major conspiracy theory, going back for centuries: It entails allegations of horrific …

Subjects: Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

White House Prepares Executive Order Targeting ‘Woke AI’

WSJ via MSN no paywall + alternate free link: “White House officials are preparing an executive order targeting tech companies with what they see as “woke” artificial-intelligence models, their latest effort to go after diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, people familiar with the matter said. The order would dictate that AI companies getting federal contracts …

Subjects: AI, Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

Nobody (Not Even Trump) Can Control the Epstein Story

The Atlantic – no paywall: “Donald Trump helped create a monster. Now he’d like for everyone to ignore it. After years of sounding dog whistles and peddling outright conspiracism to work his supporters into a lather about global pedophile rings, Trump is telling those same people to move on. Earlier today, Trump posted on Truth …

Subjects: Censorship, Congress, Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Social Media

Using Signal groups for activism

Micah Lee: “Things are heating up. Millions of people are taking to the streets against Trump’s rising authoritarianism. Communities around the US are organizing to defend against ICE raids, to protest Israeli genocide, for mutual aid, and for other forms of fighting fascism. Signal can help people safely organize in all of these contexts. Signal …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, E-Records, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Privacy

Agencies plan to decommission hundreds of .gov websites following GSA review

Federal News Network: “Hundreds of federal agency websites are being targeted for elimination, following a governmentwide review. In an analysis led by the General Services Administration, the 24 largest departments and agencies inventoried more than 7,200 total websites. Documents obtained by Federal News Network show agencies plan to eliminate 332 of those websites — less …

Subjects: Censorship, Climate Change, E-Records, Education, Energy, Environmental Law, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

What to Do When You See ICE in Your Neighborhood

The Intercept – How can you deter the Trump administration’s immigrant deportation machine when it pops up in your community? Follow these steps… Out running errands and see a cluster of weirdos kitted out for war, milling about like they’re stuck in a Call of Duty matchmaking lobby? Grab some pics and vids to raise …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Social Media

Cops’ favorite AI tool automatically deletes evidence of when AI was used

Ars Technica: AI police tool is designed to avoid accountability, watchdog says. On Thursday, a digital rights group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, published an expansive investigation into AI-generated police reports that the group alleged are, by design, nearly impossible to audit and could make it easier for cops to lie under oath. Axon’s Draft One …

Subjects: AI, Censorship, Civil Liberties, E-Records, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Privacy

First Amendment: Government Retaliation for Protected Expression

CRS Legal Sidebar – “The Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment provides that “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.” The clause applies to any government action, whether federal, state, or local. Individuals may be able to challenge violations of their free speech rights in a variety of …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

Senate report details “preventable failures” surrounding Butler assassination attempt

Axios: “The U.S. Secret Service denied multiple requests for additional resources from President Trump‘s detail during his campaign, according to a new report on the Butler, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt. The big picture: The report released Sunday from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs detailed a “disturbing pattern of communications failures and negligence” …

Subjects: Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

In the fight against foreign information manipulation, the US can’t afford to disarm

Atlantic Council: “As its adversaries wage an information war, the United States is retreating from the front lines. Washington has dismantled key programs for countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Foreign Influence Task Force. This leaves a dangerous vacuum in the US national defense posture. If left …

Subjects: AI, Censorship, Civil Liberties, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Defense, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

Once it was mostly a taco website. Now it’s covering L.A. ICE raids.

Washington Post via MSN – no paywall: “It all happened so quickly. On June 6, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents descended upon Los Angeles, raiding businesses and arresting more than 40 people. Once word got out on social media, protests began and L.A. Taco’s six-person news team headed out to the streets. Investigative reporter Lexis-Olivier …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Social Media

NOAA Proposes Permanently Closing Premier Hurricane Research Institute

Michael Lowry – Eye on The Tropics – “Only days after the U.S. Department of Defense abruptly announced the immediate termination of satellite data critical to hurricane forecasts – granted a moratorium early Monday through July – NOAA posted details of its 2026 budget request to Congress, which closes more than a dozen world-class weather …

Subjects: Censorship, Climate Change, Congress, Environmental Law, Freedom of Information, Government Documents