"The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is reportedly ending its deal with Flock Safety, a surveillance company that helps law enforcement track vehicles using thousands of its license plate cameras placed across the United States.

A senior LAPD official told news outlets, first reported by ABC7 and the Los Angeles Times, that the police department would allow its three-year contract with Flock to expire when it ends on Saturday. The department cited “serious concerns” around civil liberties and privacy. Flock’s cameras are operated by the Atlanta, Georgia-based company and not the LAPD.

“This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras,” LAPD’s chief information officer Dean Gialamas was quoted as saying. “The LAPD had to make a difficult decision, in this case discontinuing using Flock services until we can get those data, privacy, security and sharing concerns ironed out through a contractual relationship.”

A spokesperson for the LAPD did not respond to a request for comment from TechCrunch over the weekend, and it’s unclear if Flock’s cameras will continue recording in absence of an active contract. According to ABC7, the police department is seeking new language in its contract addressing privacy and data storage concerns."

https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/13/lapd-lets-contract-with-surveillance-giant-flock-expire-citing-serious-concerns-over-civil-liberties-and-privacy/

#USA #LA #LosAngeles #Flock #LAPD #Privacy #Surveillance #CivilLiberties

Your name, address, and phone number are on dozens of sites right now. The guides show you how to remove them, one at a time, for free.

#privacy #optout #indigoprivacy

#LAPD Regularly Pulled Over #Innocent People Because #LicensePlateReaders Flagged Their Cars As Stolen

The #LosAngeles Police Department (LAPD) announced it will let its #surveillance contract with automated license plate reader company (#ALPR ) #Flock expire, becoming the largest police department in the country to drop its contract. Notably, the decision came after an audit of ALPR technology found that, in a two-month period, the LAPD had improperly "investigated" 161 people whose cars were flagged as stolen in the LAPD’s ALPR system but were not actually stolen.

The news that LAPD pulled over 161 innocent people in two months because of improper tagging in the department’s system comes after several high-profile incidents in which people in other states were accosted by police because of data entry or clerical errors in ALPR systems.
#privacy #security

https://www.404media.co/lapd-regularly-pulled-over-innocent-people-because-license-plate-readers-flagged-their-cars-as-stolen/

Google’s AI push and privacy invasions are finally pushing my dad over the edge. He moved to Fastmail last week, and is now moving to my Immich server. He sounds interested in Nextcloud too!

I told him how Google Takeout separates photos and metadata and it only strengthened his resolve to leave Google. I’m so proud 🥹

#SelfHosted #SelfHosting #Privacy #Homelab

Occupational safety sensor systems installed in factories monitor worker heart rate and fatigue and transmit data to supervisors in real time.

#privacy #workplacemonitoring #wearables #indigoprivacy

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀:

#Messagerie #Privacy

https://thewhale.cc/posts/landis

Langis is like "Signal" without Google Play Services support for a better privacy.

Alt...

Langis is like "Signal" without Google Play Services support for a better privacy.

LAPD lets contract with surveillance giant Flock expire

https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/13/lapd-lets-contract-with-surveillance-giant-flock-expire-citing-serious-concerns-over-civil-liberties-and-privacy/

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48893947

#HackerNews #LAPD #Flock #Surveillance #Privacy #CivilLiberties #TechNews

Dutch intelligence agencies are facing fresh scrutiny after a watchdog found unauthorized access to bulk citizen datasets, excessive data retention, and weak audit logging.

Privacy advocates now fear some of that data could also be used in AI systems, raising questions about oversight, transparency, and whether agencies have learned from past failures.

Full breakdown:

https://thecybersecguru.com/news/aivd-mivd-ai-training-citizen-data/

#CyberSecurity #Privacy #AI #Infosec #DataProtection #Surveillance #Netherlands #GDPR

🔐 PGP encryption is one of the best ways to protect your communication, but many people think it's too complicated.

It doesn't have to be.

We've explained PGP in a simple, easy to understand way, so anyone can grasp the basics.

Read it here:
https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/understanding-pgp-encryption/

#PGP #Privacy #Encryption #OpenSource #OwnYourTech

Mole is a free, open-source macOS maintenance tool that helps you clean caches, uninstall apps with leftovers, analyze disk usage, optimize your system, and monitor performance, all from the terminal.

If you like tools such as CleanMyMac, AppCleaner, DaisyDisk, and iStat Menus, Mole combines many of their core features into a single CLI.

https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=mole

#OpenSource #macOS #CLI #Terminal #Productivity #Privacy

Alt...

Screenshot of the Mole project page. The page introduces Mole as an open-source macOS terminal tool for cleaning, uninstalling apps, analyzing disk usage, optimizing the system, and monitoring performance. It shows project badges including approximately 59k GitHub stars, version 1.46.0, GPL v3 license, commit activity, and a Telegram link. Below is promotional artwork featuring the Mole logo and several terminal screenshots highlighting successful cleanup results and large amounts of reclaimed disk space.

The SFPD’s exposure of hours of videos from drone platform Skydio reveals how broadly it’s watching the city from above—and how the results can spill online.

Alt...

A Leak of San Francisco Police Drone Footage Exposes the New Reality of Urban Surveillance

New on the blog: Privacy First: Navigating AI Concerns with Makro's Secure Text Expansion

https://makroexpander.com/blog/privacy-first-navigating-ai-concerns-with-makro-s-secure-text-expansion

#Privacy #Encryption #Productivity

RE: https://theatl.social/@DecaturNature/116907049903277771

Concerns about Flock's mass-stalking system are often dismissed on the grounds that we have no expectation of privacy on public streets. This logic is treated as self-evident and eternal, yet 'privacy' is a concept that is constantly re-evaluated and updated. For instance, 18th century European (and British) post-offices regularly opened citizen's mail without warrants. After all, the mail was being carried by a government agency and so the government could put whatever conditions it wished on that service. The USA had to build it's own post office to establish an expectation of privacy for communications (see link below). Today, many jurisdictions have likewise established an expectation that private citizens will not be recorded in public as they go about their personal business.
https://daily.jstor.org/the-post-office-and-privacy/
#privacy #flock #surveillance #deflock

I’ve had Sleep Number beds for years, but I found out after I got the last one 4 yrs ago that it couldn’t be adjusted w/o downloading their app, setting up a user account & using a bluetooth connection from my phone to link the bed to the mothership.

The only way to opt out was to call & order a remote for an extra $60 & wait a couple weeks for delivery. The extra hurdles to demand #privacy of my biometric data are infuriating, but absolutely worth jumping.

#FUSleepNumber #privacymatters

Helix is a free, open-source code editor written in Rust with Vim-style modal editing, built-in LSP support, Tree-sitter syntax highlighting, and multiple cursors, no complex plugin setup required.

A fast, privacy-friendly editor for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

More details: https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=helix

#OpenSource #Programming #Rust #CodeEditor #Linux #Privacy

Alt...

Screenshot of the Helix project page showing the Helix logo, release and build badges, contributor count, and an editor preview demonstrating split-pane code editing with documentation popups.

The EU built mass surveillance disguised as child protection.

Our investigation found German police data proving 48% of alerts aren't crimes, 40% target minors.

Thorn (Ashton Kutcher's company) helped write the law. Thread below 👇

https://thomaster.substack.com/p/the-silent-invasion

#Privacy #EU #ChatControl #Surveillance

#EFF Celebrates 36th Anniversary, Says 'We Need You in the Fight'

https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/07/10/2241251/eff-celebrates-36th-anniversary-says-we-need-you-in-the-fight

#privacy #politics

How #Flock Cameras Wrongly Tracked a Journalist for Days, Then Sent #Police to Arrest Him

https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/07/11/0556236/how-flock-cameras-wrongly-tracked-a-journalist-for-days-then-sent-police-to-arrest-him

#privacy #surveillance #ALPR #journalism

#Meta removes controversial #AI feature on #Instagram after backlash

https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/10/meta-removes-controversial-ai-feature-on-instagram-after-backlash/

#Muse #privacy

Alarm over launch of facial recognition in UK shops that instantly alerts police // The Guardian

“The idea of calling the police on somebody who hasn’t committed a crime, but there’s a concern they might, is really upending the way we do things. And of course, it’s not infallible. These systems do make mistakes, and it’s very hard to argue with that when it happens to you.”

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/10/facewatch-facial-recognition-uk-shops-instantly-alerts-police-civil-liberties

#facialrecognition #uk #privacy #civilliberties

If you’ve been looking for a messenger with no phone number, no account, and no server that can be scanned or subpoenaed, that’s exactly what Zerion is.

Everything runs over Tor. Post-quantum encryption on every message. Hidden profiles and anti-forensics for people who need them. Free and open source, so you can verify all of it yourself.

We’ve grown to here on word of mouth alone. If it sounds useful, try it and tell one person who’d need it.

zerion.chat

#privacy #tor #foss #android

Everyone talks about end-to-end encryption, but that's only one piece of the privacy puzzle.

I compared 14 messaging apps using the LINDDUN privacy threat modeling framework, evaluating them across seven privacy threats:

• Linkability
• Identifiability
• Non-repudiation
• Detectability
• Data disclosure
• Unawareness
• Non-compliance

The results challenge many common assumptions about apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, iMessage, Discord, Threema, Session, SimpleX, Briar, Cwtch, Matrix, Wire, and others.

If you care about metadata, anonymity, surveillance resistance, or privacy by design, this guide is for you.

🔗 https://thecybersecguru.com/online-privacy/most-secure-messaging-apps-2026/

#Privacy #CyberSecurity #Infosec #Encryption #Signal #SimpleX #Briar #Threema #Messaging #OpenSource #LINDDUN #DigitalPrivacy

Everyone talks about end-to-end encryption, but that's only one piece of the privacy puzzle.

I compared 14 messaging apps using the LINDDUN privacy threat modeling framework, evaluating them across seven privacy threats:

• Linkability
• Identifiability
• Non-repudiation
• Detectability
• Data disclosure
• Unawareness
• Non-compliance

The results challenge many common assumptions about apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, iMessage, Discord, Threema, Session, SimpleX, Briar, Cwtch, Matrix, Wire, and others.

If you care about metadata, anonymity, surveillance resistance, or privacy by design, this guide is for you.

🔗 https://thecybersecguru.com/online-privacy/most-secure-messaging-apps-2026/

#Privacy #CyberSecurity #Infosec #Encryption #Signal #SimpleX #Briar #Threema #Messaging #OpenSource #LINDDUN #DigitalPrivacy

the list of #ArcaneChat channels in #Russian grew quite a lot! 15 channels listed now, thanks a lot to @gluek for bridging the #Telegram channels!

#DeltaChat #chatmail #Russia #news #Россия #новости #decentralization #opensource #privacy #encryption #memes #channels #bot #bridge

Reviewe Lumo 2.0 : Proton's privacy-focused AI assistant, to see how it compares with ChatGPT and Claude.

The review covers its strengths, limitations, privacy claims, and whether it's ready for everyday use.

Read the review: https://digitalescapetools.com/reviews/lumo-2-0-review.html

#Privacy #AI #Proton #Lumo #OpenSource #TechReview

Fort Firewall gives you detailed control over which Windows apps can access the network with custom rules, blocklists, bandwidth limits, and traffic statistics.

⚠️ Note: On Windows 10+, it currently requires disabling HVCI (Memory Integrity), so check the requirements first.

More details: https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=fort

#Windows #Privacy #OpenSource #Firewall #SelfHosted #CyberSecurity

Alt...

Screenshot of the Fort Firewall project page showing the app logo, release badges, a description, and the Windows interface with per-application firewall rules for allowing or blocking internet access.

Increased drone #surveillance of illegal July 4th fireworks led to $100K fine

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/on-americas-250th-more-cities-used-drone-surveillance-to-spot-illegal-fireworks/

#privacy #IndependenceDay

And so the surveillance society continues to expand as retailers deploy facial recognition technology (that triggers immediate police alerts) into the high street.

The technical problems with FR systems are well known as are the challenges to privacy - the UK's road to becoming a police state continues (no, we're not there yet, but the direction of travel is pretty clear).

#politics #privacy
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/10/facewatch-facial-recognition-uk-shops-instantly-alerts-police-civil-liberties

#Itsme mandates #FacialRecognition in #Belgium from 2027

https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/itsme-will-require-facial-recognition-in-belgium-from-2027-bytes-europe/39090/3

#privacy #Europe #FRT

#AI #Surveillance and Social Progress

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2026/07/ai-surveillance-and-social-progress.html

#privacy

First it’s a scan. Then it’s a standard. Then it’s simply how things are. Privacy is a right, and a right you can’t exercise is one you soon no longer have in the EU. Enjoying how Keet makes fun of this.

#Keet #Privacy #EU #Encryption #DigitalRights #P2P

How to turn off #FaceID on #iPhone — and when you should

https://proton.me/blog/how-to-turn-off-face-id

#privacy #cybersecurity #guide

#Apple Patches App #Privacy Issue, Many More Left Unaddressed for Now

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/07/10/apple-patches-app-privacy-issue-many-more-left-unaddressed-for-now/

#iOS27

#OpenMandriva #Linux says contributor tried to sabotage the project

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/openmandriva-linux-says-contributor-tried-to-sabotage-the-project/

#FOSS #privacy

The #House Passed The #KIDSAct—The #Senate Should Reject It

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/07/house-passed-kids-act-senate-should-reject-it

#privacy #AgeVerification #politics

"We Want Texans to Know Their Rights": Q&A with #MaydayHealth on the Impact of #Surveillance on #Abortion Care

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/07/we-want-texans-know-their-rights-qa-mayday-health-impact-surveillance-abortion

#privacy #Texas

Zerion 3.0 marks our transition to a fully independent protocol stack.

Briar has been an excellent foundation, but our goal is to be fully independent. We’re replacing the remaining Briar/Bramble protocols with our own transport, wire format, sync layer and message model.

One focus: resisting traffic analysis with constant-rate polling and cover traffic.

https://zerion.chat

#privacy #tor #foss

If you don't want to chat with an AI bot, but with real friends and family, privately and securely...

Use Signal: https://signal.org/install 💙

No AI bots. No ads. No tracking. Just your conversations.

If your friends aren't on Signal yet, invite them this summer. Let the blue sky be your reminder ☀️

#signal #signalmessenger #signalapp #privacy #ai

Alt...

Blue story post with the Signal logo, a waving hand, and the text: "I'm on Signal now."

Just a quick rant: I prefer to support small businesses, but it bugs me when a companyʻs “web site” is just an #Instagram or #Facebook page. I understand that many folks may not have the time nor talent to put together a simple site, but by not doing so these small businesses are demanding that every potential customer turn over data to Zuckerberg - and to every broker and marketer that he sells our data to. So please folks, donʻt force us potential customers to avoid your biz. #tech #privacy

#privacy

"Opt out of global data surveillance programs like PRISM, XKeyscore and Tempora.

Help make mass surveillance of entire populations uneconomical! We all have a right to privacy, which you can exercise today by encrypting your communications and ending your reliance on proprietary services.

https://prism-break.org/en/

You have the right to request removal from most data broker sites. Most people never use it.

#databrokers #privacy #indigoprivacy

"...To do so, users must go to Instagram's settings menu, select "Sharing and Reuse" and switch off "Allow people to reuse your content on Instagram and with AI features at Meta" for posts and reels...." #instagram #AI #privacy #meta

BBC: Outcry as Meta lets users make AI images from public Instagram profile pics

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9lee19y1yo

#ai #privacy #meta #instagram #AIpocalypse

Proton users, what are your thoughts on the Lumo AI?

#proton #privacy #ai #lumo #security

@thenewoil Thinking that Meta would choose to keep users thoughts/emotions read only would be naive.

If their AI's can access and read users emotions, they can use their outputs to influence emotions, as Meta's much cruder 2012 study showed.

That pales in comparison to what would be possible now.

The importance of transparency in what the algorithms show you and why has never been more important.

#Meta #Privacy #SocialMedia #Influence

Let this sink in. On July 9, more MEPs voted against Chat Control than for it. 314 to reject, 276 to keep. And it passed anyway, extended to 2028.

A second-reading rule required an absolute majority of 361 to block it, so a clear majority against wasn’t enough. The vote was scheduled for the last day before summer recess, when seats were empty.

When “no” wins the count but loses the vote, the architecture matters more than ever. No server, nothing to scan.

zerion.chat

#chatcontrol #privacy

https://linuxiac.com/chatto-chat-app-is-now-open-source-and-available-to-self-host/

Chatto a Discord like app with Voice, Video and screen-sharing, but a heavy focus on privacy has just gone open source,

#OpenSource #Privacy #DiscordAlternative

#Google hands Open Health Stack to the #Linux Foundation

https://nerds.xyz/2026/07/google-open-health-stack-linux-foundation/

#healthcare #privacy

I've been recommending people use/try #DeltaChat more than #Signal and it's worked far better than I thought! It's screen reader friendly also, across desktop and mobile! At least, on Windows anyway. https://delta.chat/en/help#multiclient #Chat #Privacy

I don't know who needs to hear this today, but everyone in your family or your household is entitled to #privacy.

The fact that you are a parent of a child does not make it okay to invade your child's privacy.

The fact that you are a spouse does not make it okay to invade your spouse's privacy.

The fact that you share a domicile with someone does not make it okay to invade your housemate's privacy, no matter your relationship to them.

Flock CEO: "Unfortunately, there’s terrorist organizations like DeFlock whose primary motivation is chaos. They’re closer to Antifa than they are anything else." #privacy #JoinAntifa
https://deflock.org/

Copyparty is a free, open-source file server for self-hosting and sharing files from any web browser.

It supports resumable uploads, WebDAV, SMB, SFTP, FTP, temporary share links, media previews, search, ZIP downloads, and much more, all while keeping you in control of your data.

More details: https://www.digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=copyparty

#OpenSource #SelfHosted #FileSharing #Linux #Privacy #FOSS

Alt...

Screenshot of the Copyparty project page showing its logo, tagline about turning almost any device into a file server with resumable uploads/downloads, and a cassette-themed illustration.