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#thoughtcrime

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#BorderPatrol Wants Advanced #AI to #Spy on American Cities

A U.S. Border Patrol “Industry Day” deck also asks for #drones, seismic sensors, and tech that can see through walls.

by Sam Biddle
July 23 2025

Excerpt: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection, flush with billions in new funding, is seeking 'advanced AI' technologies to surveil urban residential areas, increasingly sophisticated #autonomous systems, and even the ability to see through walls.

"A CBP presentation for an 'Industry Day' summit with private sector vendors, obtained by The Intercept, lays out a detailed wish list of tech CBP hopes to purchase, like satellite connectivity for #SurveillanceTowers along the #border and improved radio communications. But it also shows that state-of-the-art, AI-augmented surveillance technologies will be central to the Trump administration’s #AntiImmigrant campaign, which will extend deep into the interior of the North American continent, hundreds of miles from international borders as commonly understood.

"The recent passage of Trump’s sprawling flagship legislation funnels tens of billions of dollars to the #DepartmentOfHomelandSecurity. While much of that funding will go to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to bolster the administration’s arrest and deportation operations, a great deal is earmarked to purchase new technology and equipment for federal offices tasked with preventing immigrants from arriving in the first place: Customs and Border Protection, which administers the country’s border surveillance apparatus, and its subsidiary, the U.S. Border Patrol.

"One page of the presentation, describing the wishlist of Border Patrol’s Law Enforcement Operations Division, says the agency needs '#AdvancedAI to identify and track suspicious activity in urban environment [sic],' citing the 'challenges' posed by 'Dense residential areas.' What’s considered '#SuspiciousActivity' is left unmentioned.
Customs and Border Protection did not respond to questions posed about the slides by The Intercept."

Read more:
theintercept.com/2025/07/23/cb

Archived version:
archive.ph/ohLtM

The Intercept · Border Patrol Wants Advanced AI to Spy on American CitiesBy Sam Biddle
Continued thread

"Fusion centers like #JRIC play a central role in how police understand #protest movements. The intelligence they produce is rapidly disseminated and draws heavily on open-source data. It often reflects broad, risk-averse assumptions and includes fragmentary and unverified information. In the absence of concrete threats, bulletins often turn to ideological language and social media activity as evidence of emerging risks, even when tied to lawful expression.

"DHS’s risk-based approach reflects a broader shift in US law enforcement shaped by post-9/11 security priorities—one that elevates perceived intent over demonstrable wrongdoing and uses behavior cues, affiliations, and other potentially predictive indicators to justify early intervention and expanded surveillance."

#ThoughtCrime #ACAB #Fascism
#Authoritarianism #Resistance #Journalism #PoliceState #CriminalizingDissent #FreeSpeech #Protestors #USPol #CriminalizingProtest #Orwell #BigBrother #DoublePlusUngood
#SurveillanceState #NineteenEightyFour

Replied in thread

@cdarwin

#USpol #Sarcasm
#MoscowMitch "...McConnell...tried to tamper down fears of voter blowback against the proposed cuts to Medicaid spending in the GOP’s budget reconciliation bill,...voters will ultimately “get over it.”

Ah, it is really great that #ThoughtCrime is still not implemented in the #US.

I'm thinking: would voters really take a long time to "get over it" if all the globe's #Gerontocrats suffered a severe stroke or heartattack?

I'd say, NO, the world'd be a better place!

Replied in thread

@heidilifeldman

#USpol #TheBrownSpiderWeb

(2/n)

👉2025 is set to become #1933 and"#1984" at the same time.👈
With the real #KingMaker's (#PeterThiel) #spyware and #surveillance products (#Palantir,) 2026 is set to add a next-generation ingredient to #Fascism: #PredictivePolicing, a brand new way in RL to persecute #ThoughtCrime.

@heidilifeldman

That said, I agree 100% with the excellent @guardian article:

theguardian.com/commentisfree/

At #DOGE "...#AI is...

3 ways #Trump's #immigration #crackdown could hit #USCitizens

Brittany Gibson, Apr 23, 2025

"#Trump administration officials are suggesting their immigration crackdown could expand to include deporting convicted U.S. citizens and charging anyone — not just immigrants — who criticizes Trump's policies.

"Why it matters: Such moves — described by officials in recent days — would show how U.S. citizens could be impacted by the growing number of tactics President Trump is using to, in his view, improve national security.

"They'd also be certain to ignite new legal battles over how far Trump's team can go in fighting illegal immigration and responding to #dissenters.

"Zoom in: Here are three tactics the administration has teased that legal analysts say would challenge Americans' rights:

1. Sending convicted U.S. citizens to prisons abroad.

This has been floated as a spinoff of Trump's deal with El Salvador, where a high-security prison is holding about 300 U.S. immigration detainees that the administration says are suspected criminals and gang members.
"Homegrowns are next," Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele last week, referring to sending Americans convicted of crimes to serve time in foreign prisons.
"We always have to obey the laws," Trump said, "but we also have homegrown criminals that push people into subways, that hit elderly ladies over the head ... I'd like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country."
Trump's suggestion — echoing a similar proposal Bukele made to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February — drew a storm of criticism from legal advocates, who called it unconstitutional.

2. Putting critics of the administration's policies in jeopardy.

Some officials say U.S. citizens who #criticize administration policies could be charged with crimes, based on the notion that they're aiding terrorists and criminals.
"You have to ask yourself, are they technically aiding and abetting them, because aiding and abetting criminals and terrorists is a crime," White House senior director for counterterrorism Seb Gorka said in an interview with Newsmax.
Trump's team also has questioned the legality of civic groups providing #immigrants with "#KnowYourRights" trainings on how to respond to federal agents. Border czar Tom Homan suggested that such seminars help people evade law enforcement.
"They're trying to use terrorism laws to attack people for their speech and for their political activism, and that's an authoritarian effort," said Kerri Talbot, co-executive director of the Immigration Hub, an immigration advocacy group.

3. Questioning the authority of court orders.

The administration's resistance to returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia — who was legally in the U.S. with an order not to be deported back to El Salvador, but deported to the prison there anyway — has raised questions about how far Trump's team can go in trying to skirt court orders.
The White House says the decision to return #AbregoGarcia rests with El Salvador because the U.S. Supreme Court told the administration only to "facilitate" his return, not "effectuate" it.

Advocates worry the resulting confusion has laid the groundwork for Trump's team to send a #USCitizen to a foreign prison, then claim that person couldn't be returned.

A federal judge raised this concern in Abrego Garcia's case.
"If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home?" wrote Judge Harvie Wilkinson III.
"And what assurance shall there be that the Executive will not train its broad discretionary powers upon its political enemies?"

What they're saying: Michelle Brané, former executive director of the Biden administration's Family Reunification Task Force, echoed Wilkinson.

"If they can send a noncitizen to a prison in El Salvador without due process ... why would a U.S. citizen be safer?"

The White House didn't respond to a request for comment. But officials have argued that they have an electoral mandate for stricter immigration enforcement, and that opposition to their policies is against the will of voters.

Trump's handling of immigration polls well in public surveys.
But sending immigrants to El Salvador's prison without criminal convictions or due process does not — about 60% were opposed in a recent YouGov survey.

Between the lines: U.S. citizens have been mistakenly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before, including cases this month in Arizona and Florida.

"People are realizing that this is going to impact all communities," Talbot said, "and that if one citizen can be picked up, then any of us can be picked up and put into proceedings, or labeled a #terrorist, or removed to a foreign prison."

Original article:
axios.com/2025/04/23/trump-imm

Archived version:
archive.ph/wUUdG

#SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #CriminalizingDissent #USPol #DontQuestionBigBrother #Fascism #Authoritarianism #MemoryHoled #Orwellian #ThoughtCrime #WaterDefenders #LandDefenders #Resisters #HumanRightsDefenders #IhrePapiereBitte #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Nazis #SecretPolice
#Disappeared #USCitizens #ICEDetention
#IllegalDeportations#CharacteristicsOfFascism #Deportations #Disappeared #MemoryHoled #NineteenEightyFour #DoublePlusUngood

Axios · 3 ways Trump's immigration crackdown could hit U.S. citizensBy Brittany Gibson

The secret police are no longer secret. We are under occupation. Any one of us could be disappeared next. Legality means nothing anymore.

Another student has been arrested for “thought crime”.

The court filing said Mahdawi was targeted by a pro-Israel organization #Betar USA, which said on social media that “visa holder Mohsen Mahdawi is on our deport list.”

In a previous interview with “60 Minutes” regarding the protests, Mahdawi had condemned an individual who came to one and yelled “death to Jews.”
“I was shocked and they walked directly to the person and they told him, ‘You don’t represent us,’” he said, adding “to be antisemitic is to be unjust and the fight for the freedom of Palestine and the fight against antisemitism go hand in hand because a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

thehill.com/homenews/education

George Orwell's #thoughtcrime is now a real thing in the U.S.A.

Marco Rubio "does not allege any criminal conduct by Khalil, a legal permanent US resident and graduate student…Rubio wrote Khalil could be expelled for his beliefs."

theguardian.com/us-news/2025/a

The Guardian · Mahmoud Khalil can be expelled for his beliefs alone, US government arguesBy Guardian staff reporter
Continued thread

US Federal #S1017: New federal criminal penalties for #protests near #pipelines

"Would create a new federal felony offense that could apply to protests of planned or operational pipelines. The bill would broadly criminalize under federal law 'knowingly and willfully' 'vandalizing, tampering with, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of' a gas pipeline. A range of #PeacefulActivities could be deemed 'disrupting… the construction of' a pipeline, from a rally that obstructs a road used by construction equipment, to a lawsuit challenging a pipeline’s permit or zoning approval. The bill does not define 'disrupt,' such that even a brief delay would seemingly be covered. Further, the underlying law provides that any 'attempt' or '#conspiracy' to commit the offense would be punished the same as actual commission. As such, individuals as well as organizations that engage in the planning or facilitation of a protest that is deemed to 'disrupt' pipeline construction could be covered. The offense would be punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for an organization.

Status: pending
Introduced 13 Mar 2025.

Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, Infrastructure

Full bill text:
congress.gov/bill/119th-congre
#CriminalizingDissent #AntiProtestLaws #Authoritarianism #Fascism #Clampdown #Pipelines #PipelineProtests #ThoughtCrime

#Quakers condemn arrests of #activists at meeting house

March 30, 2025

"The arrests of six female supporters of activist group #YouthDemand at a Quaker meeting house have been condemned by the faith group.

"Quakers in #Britain said the arrests were the first at a meeting house and 'an aggressive violation'.

"The Metropolitan Police said six people were arrested on Thursday evening at the Westminster Meeting House on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a #PublicNuisance.

"The force said it came amid concerns there were plans to 'shut down' London during April using tactics such as road blocks.

"Youth Demand said more than 30 officers were involved with making the arrests.

"Paul Parker, of Quakers in Britain, said he could not recall anyone being arrested at a Quaker meeting house in living memory.

"'The forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society #CriminalisesProtest.

"'#FreedomOfSpeech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins #democracy,' he said.

"Police said a further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday - four at addresses in #London and one in #Exeter.

"Youth Demand, which is not affiliated with the Quakers, said the meeting was 'an opportunity to share plans for non-violent #CivilResistance actions' due to take place in April.

"The group claimed a number of houses were also raided on Thursday and Friday as part of the operation.

"Quakers in Britain said: 'Quakers support the right to non-violent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against #injustice and for our planet.

"'Many have taken non-violent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of #slavery to women's #suffrage and prison reform.'

"The Met said the force understood the importance of the right to protest but added that Youth Demand had stated an intention to 'shut down' London in April.

"'We have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality,' a spokesman said.

"On Thursday, officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting where those in attendance were plotting their April action.

"Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

"A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter.

'Policing priorities'

"Out of the 11 people arrested, 10 have been released on bail and one will face no further action.

"Asked about the matter on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'I have made clear to the police this government's priorities for policing are reducing serious violence... and bringing back neighbourhood policing, those crimes in town centres like shoplifting.'

"Youth Demand, which describes itself as a 'new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to #genocide', began carrying out acts of #CivilDisobedience last year.

"Its demands of the government include stopping all trade with #Israel and raising money from 'the #SuperRich and #Fossilfuel #elite' to pay damages for the effects of fossil fuel burning."

Read more:
bbc.com/news/articles/cj3x5j6g
#UKPol #ThoughtCrime #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingActivism #PublicNuisanceLaws #Article20 #2023PublicOrderAct #Resistance #UKResistance #ProtectMotherEarth #FreePalestine #IsraeliWarCrimes

bbc.comQuakers condemn arrests of Youth Demand activists at meeting houseQuakers in Britain says the arrests were the first at a meeting house and "an aggressive violation".

This is what happens when stupid people decide that words can be bad.

Pete Hegseth, Trump's DUI hire, and his Dept of Defense will ban references to the Enola Gay, the WWII bomber that carried the nuclear bomb to Hiroshima.

It was named after the pilot's mother, not the sexual preference.

Pentagon's DEI purge
apnews.com/article/dei-purge-i
#USPol #ThoughtCrime #WWII #EnolaGay #USDOD #DEI #LanguagePolice #APNews

Replied in thread

@Blahster
"Witzig" im engeren Sinn fand ich das nicht. Ich kann mir viel vorstellen, aber diese Art der Inhaftierung mit Personen, die sich wohl nicht ausweisen konnten (und selbst dann...), die extrem lange Bearbeitungszeit und dann die wohl noch folgende Deportation...kein Anwalt?
Und abgesehen davon: die wird offenbar wegen eines #ThoughtCrime "abgeurteilt": Wenn ich es richtig verstanden habe, war sie noch gar nicht in den USA beim "Arbeiten" gewesen. Der Werkzeugbesitz ist nicht strafbar.

Here’s How Police Can Get Your Data — Even if You Aren’t Suspected of a Crime

And you may never know they did it.

by Sara Morrison

"You don’t have to be a suspect or involved in a crime for law enforcement to get your data

"So, let’s say you’ve decided that you will never commit a crime so law enforcement obtaining your data will never be an issue for you. You’re wrong.

"As mentioned above, your data could be included in a purchase from a data broker. Or it may be scooped up in a digital dragnet, also known as a reverse search warrant, where police request data about a large group of people in the hope of finding their suspect within them.

“'These are novel techniques to discover things that never could have been discovered in the past, and which have the capacity to rope in innocent people,' Granick, of the #ACLU, said.

"Two examples of this: where you went and what you searched for. In a #geofence #warrant, law enforcement gets information about all the devices that were in a certain area at a certain time — say, where a crime occurred — then narrows them down and gets account information for the device(s) they think belong to their suspect(s). For keyword warrants, police may ask a browser for all the IP addresses that searched for a certain term related to their case and then identify a possible suspect from that group.

"These situations still represent a legal gray area. While some judges have called them a Fourth Amendment violation and refused the government’s requests for warrants, others have allowed them. And we’ve seen at least one instance where reverse search warrants have led to the arrest of an innocent person."

getpocket.com/explore/item/her

#ThoughtCrime #RightToProtest #DigitalPrivacy #ACAB #SilencingDissent #Fascism
#FreeSpeech #CriminalizingDissent #HumanRights

PocketHere’s How Police Can Get Your Data — Even if You Aren’t Suspected of a CrimeAnd you may never know they did it.