[KALÉ CAREY]
A CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEILLANCE TOOL HAS BEEN HELPING THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT MONITOR GAZA PROTESTS.
“DATA MINER”, PROVIDED REAL-TIME ALERTS TO THE L-A-P-D, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON PLANNED PROTESTS ACROSS THE U-S, ACCORDING TO RECORDS OBTAINED BY NEWS OUTLET, “THE INTERCEPT” – WHICH SPAN OCTOBER 20-23 TO APRIL 20-24.
“THE INTERCEPT” REPORTS THE COMPANY SCOURED SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS LIKE TWITTER – NOW X, SNAPCHAT, AND TELEGRAM TO TRACK PROTEST-RELATED CONTENT, FLAGGING OVER 50 PROTESTS, WITH AT LEAST A DOZEN WARNINGS BEFORE EVENTS OCCURRED.
[PROTESTERS]
Shut it down, shut it down!
[KALÉ CAREY]
ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION, THE RECORDS SHOW A “DATA MINER” EMPLOYEE CONTACTED THE L-A-P-D DIRECTLY TO INFORM OFFICERS OF A PROTEST BEING PLANNED THAT APPARENTLY HADN’T BEEN PICKED UP BY THE COMPANY’S AUTOMATED SCANNING.
IT’S NOT CLEAR WHETHER ANY OF THESE NOTIFICATIONS IMPACTED THE L-A-P-D’S RESPONSE TO THE WAVE OF PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS – LEADING TO HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS.
SEVERAL OF THE PROTESTS WERE REPORTED TO BE “PEACEFUL.”
DATA MINER ARGUES ITS PROCESS IS LEGAL BECAUSE IT OPERATES USING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
HOWEVER, THE SERVICE RAISES PRIVACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERNS … WITH CRITICS ARGUING THIS KIND OF SURVEILLANCE INFRINGES ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND MAY DETER PEOPLE FROM PARTICIPATING IN PROTESTS DUE TO THE FEAR OF GOVERNMENT MONITORING.
“DATA MINER” ALSO FACED ACCUSATIONS OF PROVIDING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE, GIVING THEM ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT AN ORDINARY USER COULDN’T EASILY FIND.
THE COMPANY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SIMILAR SURVEILLANCE OF OTHER PROTESTS, SUCH AS BLACK LIVES MATTER, FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD – WHICH RAISED SIMILAR QUESTIONS.
THE A-C-L-U OF MINNESOTA CRITICIZED TWITTER AND “DATA MINER” IN 20-20 SAYING …
“THESE ACTIONS AID SURVEILLANCE AND RISK EXPOSING PEOPLE TO INVESTIGATIONS, WATCHLISTS, AND STATE VIOLENCE FOR CALLING ATTENTION TO INJUSTICE AND EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.”
“DATA MINERS” NOTIFICATIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO TURN UP FALSE POSITIVES.
RECORDS SHOW MULTIPLE TWEETS BY UPSET TAYLOR SWIFT FANS AIMED AT TICKETMASTER WERE FORWARDED TO THE L-A-P-D AS QUOTE “L-A THREATS AND DISRUPTIONS.”
NEITHER THE L-A-P-D NOR “DATA MINER” HAVE RESPONDED TO “THE INTERCEPT’S” REPORT.
FOR SAN, I’M KALÉ CAREY.
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