Politics

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Great Unknown

The Next US President Will Have Troubling New Surveillance Powers

Over the weekend, President Joe Biden signed legislation not only reauthorizing a major FISA spy program but expanding it in ways that could have major implications for privacy rights in the US.

Dell Cameron

SCROLL DOWN

The House Passes a TikTok Ban Bill That’s on the Fast Track

Makena Kelly

Public Indecency

The Trump Jury Has a Doxing Problem

Andrew Couts

Policy

Big Tech Says Spy Bill Turns Its Workers Into Informants

One of Silicon Valley’s most influential lobbying arms joins privacy reformers in a fight against the Biden administration–backed expansion of a major US surveillance program.

Dell Cameron

US Senate to Vote on a Wiretap Bill That Critics Call ‘Stasi-Like’

A controversial bill reauthorizing the Section 702 spy program may force whole new categories of businesses to eavesdrop on the US government’s behalf, including on fellow Americans.

Dell Cameron

House Votes to Extend—and Expand—a Major US Spy Program

The US House of Representatives voted on Friday to extend the Section 702 spy program. It passed without an amendment that would have required the FBI to obtain a warrant to access Americans’ information.

Dell Cameron

Trump Loyalists Kill Vote on US Wiretap Program

An attempt to reauthorize Section 702, the so-called crown jewel of US spy powers, failed for a third time in the House of Representatives after former president Donald Trump criticized the law.

Dell Cameron

Disinformation

Far-Right Sheriffs Want a Citizen Army to Stop ‘Illegal Immigrant’ Voters

Speakers at a conference for Constitutional Sheriffs claimed that militias need to patrol polling stations to stop the “expected flood” of immigrant voters.

David Gilbert

Celebrity Deepfake Porn Cases Will Be Investigated by Meta Oversight Board

Social platforms have struggled to quickly remove deepfake porn depicting celebrities.

Vittoria Elliott

Fake Footage of Iran’s Attack on Israel Is Going Viral

Misleading posts including AI-generated videos, photos, and repurposed footage from other conflicts have been viewed millions of times.

Vittoria Elliott

Election Workers Are Already Burned Out—and on High Alert

Violent threats, rampant disinformation, budget shortfalls, and mass resignations: Election workers have a long road to November.

David Gilbert

Global Elections

Elon Musk Is Platforming Far-Right Activists in Brazil, Defying Court Order

Experts warn, “They are trying to use Brazil as a laboratory on how to interfere in local politics.”

Vittoria Elliott

The Mayor of London Enters the Bullshit Cinematic Universe

It all started with an asthma attack. Now Sadiq Khan finds himself at the center of a global conspiracy.

Peter Guest

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Trump Trial Ransomware Leak

The notorious LockBit gang promised a Georgia court leak "that could affect the upcoming US election.” It didn't materialize—but the story may not be over yet.

Andy Greenberg

This Website Tracked Hate Crimes in India. Then the Government Took It Offline

With weeks to go until the start of national elections, India’s right-wing government has forced X and ISPs to block Hindutva Watch.

Vittoria Elliott

Politics News

RFK Jr.’s Very Online, Conspiracy-Filled Campaign

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched his campaign one year ago this week.

Leah Feiger and Makena Kelly

How Election Deniers Became Mainstream—and Are Weaponizing Tech

Election deniers are training others to challenge voter rolls and overwhelm election officials. And they’re using tech to do it.

Leah Feiger, David Gilbert, and Vittoria Elliott

The Hacking Lawsuit Looming Over Truth Social

The founding CEO of DWAC has accused his former assistant of hacking into his accounts as part of a “coup d'��tat,” the latest legal mess for Truth Social.

William Turton

Inside the Election Denial Groups Planning to Disrupt November

Groups like True the Vote and Michael Flynn’s America Project want to mobilize thousands of Trump supporters by pushing baseless claims about election fraud—and are rolling out new technology to fast-track their efforts.

David Gilbert