New Document Shows the CIA Is Investing in Data-Mining Firms

Emma Niles / Truthdig Apr 18, 2016 A report by The Intercept shines a light on social-media mining and surveillance-oriented companies receiving funding from In-Q-Tel, the intelligence agency’s venture capital firm. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Three New European Union Laws May Limit Freedom of the Press

Emma Niles / Truthdig Apr 15, 2016 The European Parliament—the E.U.’s legislative arm—passed a controversial legislative package with the potential to allow member countries to restrict what journalists report. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Privacy Rights Victory: California Encryption Bill Shut Down by Legislators

Emma Niles / Truthdig Apr 14, 2016 The bill, which would have penalized companies that refuse to cooperate with the government over encrypted phones, did not go to a vote. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

WhatsApp Adds Encryption to All of Its Communications

Emma Niles / Truthdig Apr 7, 2016 WhatsApp, an online messaging service owned by Facebook, has over a billion users -- and as of Tuesday, any exchanges done via the app will be encrypted. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

FBI Offers to Unlock iPhone in Arkansas Homicide Case

Emma Niles / Truthdig Apr 1, 2016 If the FBI succeeds, it will be the first time that the “backdoor” technology used in the San Bernardino case will have been used elsewhere -- exactly the situation that Apple said it wanted to prevent. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

FBI Drops Lawsuit Against Apple, Saying ‘Third Party’ Has Helped It Unlock iPhone

Staff / Truthdig Mar 30, 2016 While the legal battle may now be over, the debate about privacy and surveillance continues. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Scheer Intelligence: Blowing the Whistle on the NSA

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Mar 11, 2016 Robert Scheer sits down with former National Security Agency official turned whistle-blower William Binney to discuss the fight between Apple and the US government over access to Americans' cell phone data and why he believes there can be too much intelligence. Dig deeper

U.N. Report Says NSA’s Mass Digital Surveillance ‘Violates Core Privacy Rights’

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Oct 15, 2014 The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald writes that a report recently released by the United Nations' top official for counterterrorism and human rights rejects the "key argument often made by American defenders of the NSA." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Doctors Are Not ‘Steering Clear’ of Medicare

Staff / Truthdig Sep 11, 2013 Despite what Republicans say, a study shows that physicians are not turning away elderly patients on the insurance plan; after revelations about the NSA, the American public has becoming increasingly discontent with government protection of privacy; meanwhile, television host Jimmy Kimmel duped the world with a disastrous twerking YouTube video that proves how easy it is to divert attention from serious matters. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Google’s Spymasters Are Now Worried About Your Secrets

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Apr 30, 2013 There is a growing acceptance and indeed a demand for additional surveillance cameras, cellphone eavesdropping, location checks and biometric identifiers. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Will Democrats Sell Your Political Opinions to Credit Card Companies?

By Lois Beckett, ProPublica Feb 6, 2013 For years, state Democratic parties have been gathering information about individual voters' political leanings. Now, that record may go up for sale -- and not just to political groups. They are looking into whether credit card companies, retailers like Target or other commercial interests may want to buy the information. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Supreme Court Dismisses Eavesdropping Lawsuit

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Oct 10, 2012 The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a case against the nation's telecommunications companies for cooperating with a once-secret wiretap program enacted by the Bush administration to monitor suspected terrorists. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )