Federal court allows police to unlock parolees’ phones without warrant
A federal court ruled that police can compel parolees to unlock their phones by physically using their thumbprints. On April 17, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of Jeremy Travis Payne, who was stopped for a traffic violation in 2021 that led to charges of drug possession and distribution.
Payne, on parole for assaulting an officer, had his phone unlocked by officers using his thumbprint during the stop without a warrant, as allowed by his parole conditions. The search revealed videos that led to additional charges.
One video, filmed hours before the stop, showed a room with cash, suspected fentanyl pills and a money-counting machine. Another showed a house and a BMW.
Payne was indicted for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.His lawyers contended that requiring him to unlock his phone constituted a “compelled testimonial communication,” breaching his Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as his Fifth Amendment safeguard against self-incrimination.
However, the court noted Payne’s parole conditions allowed warrantless searches and reduced his expectations of privacy.
Court documents indicate that when a search warrant application contains illegally obtained information, a reviewing court must decide if the warrant still has probable cause after removing the inadmissible facts.
Citing United States v. Bishop, the district court found that excluding the facts discovered during an illegal sweep, the warrant still had probable cause. Payne acknowledged in his reply brief that the remaining information from his phone would likely have sufficed to establish probable cause, even without the facts obtained during the illegal sweep.
AT&T to credit customers affected by widespread network outage
AT&T announced Sunday, Feb. 25, that it would offer a $5 service credit to some customers affected by last week’s cellphone service outage. The outage, which lasted more than seven hours, impacted over 70,000 users, the company disclosed in a letter to employees.
We recognize the frustration Thursday’s outage caused & know we let many of our customers down. To help make it right, we are applying a credit to potentially impacted accounts to help reassure our customers of our commitment to reliably connect them – anytime and anywhere. It…
According to AT&T, the disruption was caused by an incorrect procedure during network expansion efforts, eliminating the possibility of a cyberattack.
“No matter the timing, one thing is clear — we let down many of our customers, including many of you and your families,” AT&T CEO John T. Stankey wrote. “For that, we apologize.”
“This is not our first network outage, and it won’t be our last – unfortunately, it’s the reality of our business,” Stankey wrote. “What matters most is how we react, adapt, and improve to deliver the service our customers need and expect.”
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced it was investigating the incident. Meanwhile, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is collaborating with AT&T to determine the cause.
AT&T says technical error, not cyberattack, caused major outage
It wasn’t a cyberattack but a technical error that caused AT&T’s massive outage on Thursday, Feb 22. In a statement, AT&T said the outage began in the morning hours as the company worked to expand its network.
“Based on our initial review, we believe that today’s outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack,” the company’s statement read. “We are continuing our assessment of today’s outage to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve.”
Calls, texts, and even 911 calls were not going through for AT&T customers during the major cellular outage that swept across cities, including San Francisco. During the confusion, emergency services in some cities reported being overrun with calls of people testing whether they had service or not.
“Please do not do this. If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work,” Massachusetts State Police said in a post on X.
The cellular company reported some customer outages mid-morning; by noon, some turned into 58,000 incidents being reported, according to a CNBC report. AT&T said it restored service to all affected customers on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 22.
“We have restored wireless service to all our affected customers. We sincerely apologize to them,” AT&T said. “Keeping our customers connected remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future.”
President Biden meets with Alexei Navalny’s family ahead of major sanctions on Russia: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 23, 2024
President Biden meets with the family of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as the U.S. prepares to impose hundreds of sanctions on Russia. And AT&T reveals what was behind the massive outage that left thousands without phone service. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
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President Biden meets with Alexei Navalny’s family ahead of major sanctions on Russia
On Friday, Feb. 23, the United States is expected to announce more than 500 sanctions against Russia, just a day shy of the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The sanctions are also in response to the Kremlin’s role in the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. On Thursday, Feb. 22, President Joe Biden met with Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, and the couple’s daughter in California.
Aleksey Navalny was a fearless advocate for his beliefs who died unbroken by the tyranny he opposed. He fought corruption, inspired millions and never wavered in his insistence on free expression, the rule of law, and a Russia that is accountable to the people and not a dictator.…
“This morning, I had the honor of meeting with Alexei Navalny’s wife and daughter,” Biden told reporters after the meeting. “As to state the obvious, he was a man of incredible courage. And it’s amazing how his wife and daughter are emulating that. We’re going to be announcing the sanctions against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, who was responsible for his death.”
U.S. officials said some of the sanctions will target those directly involved in Navalny’s death. Reports say many of the sanctions will be aimed at Russia’s defense sector.
4 charged in connection to raid of boat where 2 Navy SEALs died
Four foreign nationals have been charged in connection to a U.S. raid last month that resulted in two Navy SEALs losing their lives. According to the Justice Department, the four men, all with Pakistani identification on them, were allegedly transporting Iranian-made weapons on Jan. 11 when the Navy intercepted their small, unflagged vessel in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Somalia.
U.S. officials said one of the SEALs slipped into the water while boarding the vessel, and the other jumped in to try to save him. Both were declared dead ten days later after an extensive search. In a press release announcing the charges, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the flow of weapons from Iran to Houthi rebel forces in Yemen threatens Americans and partners in the region.
CENTCOM Status Update on Missing U.S. Navy Seals
We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased. The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported… pic.twitter.com/OAMbn1mwK8
“Two Navy SEALs tragically lost their lives in the operation that thwarted the defendants charged today from allegedly smuggling Iranian-made weapons that the Houthis could have used to target American forces and threaten freedom of navigation and a vital artery for commerce,” Monaco said.
Prosecutors have dismissed Trump’s immunity claim as “frivolous,” stating the alleged conduct occurred after he left the White House. They also accuse him of actively obstructing government efforts to recover the documents. In June, Trump pleaded not guilty to 40 criminal counts. His trial is set to start in May.
Thousands of AT&T customers affected by major cellular outage Thursday
Calls, texts, and even 911 calls were not going through for AT&T customers in a major cellular outage that swept across cities, including San Francisco, on Thursday, Feb. 22. During the confusion, emergency services in some cities reported being overrun with calls of people testing whether they had service or not.
We are aware of an issue impacting AT&T wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 911).
We are actively engaged and monitoring this.
The San Francisco 911 center is still operational.
“Please do not do this. If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work,” Massachusetts State Police said in a post on X.
The cellular company reported some customer outages mid-morning; by noon, some turned into 58,000 incidents being reported, according to a CNBC report. AT&T said it restored service to all affected customers on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 22.
Many 911 centers in the state are getting flooded w/ calls from people trying to see if 911 works from their cell phone. Please do not do this. If you can successfully place a non-emergency call to another number via your cell service then your 911 service will also work. #outage
But with the increasing threats of cyberattacks, everyone is wondering what happened. In a statement on the company’s website, AT&T said not to worry; the outage was not the result of a cyberattack; instead, it was caused by “the application and execution of an incorrect process used,” as the company said it was trying to expand its network.
Vice cutting hundreds of jobs, no longer publishing content to website
The changes came less than a year after Vice filed for bankruptcy and was then sold for $350 million to a group of lenders. Vice’s CEO said the digital outlet will now look to partner with established companies to distribute its content while emphasizing its social channels.
Odysseus becomes first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon in over 50 years
“All stations, this is mission director on IM-1,” Mission Director Tim Crain said. “We’re evaluating how we can refine that signal and dial in the pointing for Odysseus. What we can confirm without a doubt is our equipment is on the surface of the moon, and we are transmitting. So congratulations IM team. We’ll see how much more we can get from that.”
Today, for the first time in half a century, America has returned to the Moon 🇺🇸.
On the eighth day of a quarter-million-mile voyage, @Int_Machines aced the landing of a lifetime.
The spacecraft Odysseus became the first moonlander launched by a private company to make the 239-thousand-mile trip successfully.
“What an outstanding effort,” Intuitive Machines CEO Stephen Altemus said. “I know this was a nail-biter, but we are on the surface, and we are transmitting. And welcome to the moon.”
Though, as expected, mission control initially lost contact with the spacecraft as it descended, Intuitive Machines was then able to detect a faint signal later confirming Odysseus was upright and starting to send back data. The team is now working to receive the first images from the moon.
NASA, which paid the company $118 million to deliver several experiments, hailed the landing a major achievement as it looks once again to send astronauts to the moon later in the 2020s.
NYC becomes first city to label social media ‘environmental toxin’
New York City is now the first major city to label social media an “environmental toxin,” as declared by the New York City Department of Health and Human Services and Mental Hygiene on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Mayor Eric Adams, D, granted Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan the authority to issue the public health emergency during his third State of the City address.
“Companies like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook [sic], are fueling the mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features,” Adams said. “We cannot stand by and let Big Tech monetize our children’s privacy and jeopardize their mental health.
The public health advisory urges parents and caregivers to prevent kids from obtaining a smartphone or social media access until at least the age of 14. The advisory also asks health care providers to discuss social media with young patients and parents and to help develop social media usage plans for families.
Adams is also asking lawmakers nationwide to take action on legislation that protects children from the potential harms of social media.
While details are limited on how social media companies will be held accountable by New York City, the mayor did liken the declaration to another historic moment.
We are the first city in America to take this step and call out the dangers of social media like this. Just as the Surgeon General did with tobacco and guns, we’re treating social media like other public health hazards, and it must stop.
Mayor Eric Adams, D-N.Y.
“We are the first city in America to take this step and call out the dangers of social media like this,” Adams said. “Just as the surgeon general did with tobacco and guns, we’re treating social media like other public health hazards, and it must stop.”
Adams vowed more information about his efforts would be released at a later date.
Studies have shown increases in cases of depression and suicide among teens adolescents with experts pointing to a rise in social media use as part of the issue.
A recent Pew Research poll found that most teens report high usage of social media with some reporting they use it “almost constantly.”
The University of Utah Health said that research shows young adults who use social media are three times more likely to suffer from depression.
The information obtained by the University of Utah Health cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, which shows the number of suicides among 15-to-24-year-olds rose 87% over the past 20 years.
While a direct connection between the rise in suicides and the use of social media has not been confirmed, the information published by the University of Utah Health does assert that social media has “negative consequences for our mental health.”
“The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level,” the release said. “In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said the message consumers will see on their phones reads: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The message will be displayed in English or Spanish depending on the language settings on each device.
FEMA announced it will also test the emergency alert system on radios and TVs across the U.S. This portion of the test is set to last one minute. It will say: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
Trump to make court appearance on 2020 charges: The Rundown August 3
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to make his first court appearance related to the latest federal charges he faces, and a famous YouTuber files a lawsuit over hamburgers. These stories and more highlight The Rundown for Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023.
Trump to make first court appearance in D.C.
Former President Trump will appear in a Washington federal court on Aug. 3. He faces four felony charges and is accused of using “dishonesty, fraud and deceit” in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
The former president is expected to fly into Washington and arrive at the heavily guarded courthouse just a couple blocks away from the Capitol. Security has been increased for the courthouse and for the judges assigned to the case.
The four charges include conspiracy to defraud the United States, two counts related to obstructing an official proceeding of Congress and conspiracy to violate rights. During Trump’s appearance in district court, a magistrate judge is expected to set a schedule for discovery and pre-trial motions.
Trump’s defense attorney John Lauro said this latest indictment is an attempt to censor and criminalize free speech. Trump is expected to plead not guilty.
The person’s cause of death and nationality were not known as of the morning of Aug 3. An investigation is ongoing.
The buoys are part of Gov. Abbott’s multi-billion-dollar effort to secure his state’s southern border. Abbott says the buoys are designed to deter people from crossing in between ports of entry. As per their legality, Abbott has argued Texas’ constitutional right to defend its border supersedes any other statutes.
Mexico has sent two diplomatic notes to the U.S. stating the buoys violate sovereignty. The country also expressed safety and humanitarian concerns.
China encourages its citizens to spy on each other
China’s Ministry of State Security said the country should establish a system that makes it “normal” for regular people to participate in counter-espionage. They even want to create a channel for people to report suspicious activity and give them a reward.
The U.S State Department said it is closely monitoring the implementation of China’s new counter-espionage law. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the law greatly expands the scope of activities that are considered espionage.
“We do have concerns over it, certainly encouraging citizens to spy on each other is something that’s of great concern,” Miller said at his daily briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 2.
China’s expansion of its counter-espionage law took effect in July 2023. It bans the transfer of information that’s considered to be related to national security. China has arrested dozens of Chinese and foreign nationals on suspicion of espionage in recent years.
China looks to limit phone usage for kids
China has announced its newest measure to curb the threat of internet addiction in children. On Wednesday, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said all children should be limited to a maximum of two hours a day on their smartphones, with children under the age of 8 limited to just eight minutes a day.
The CAC also wanted providers of smart devices to introduce what they call “minor mode programs” that would ban young users from accessing the internet on their phones from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Investors were not happy with this news. Shares for Chinese tech firms were sent tumbling after the announcement.
Mr. Beast suing company over quality of burgers
Social media superstar Jimmy Donaldson is known by his 172 million YouTube subscribers as MrBeast. The influencer has made a reputation for making viral videos, a reputation he said is being damaged by a ghost kitchen company he partnered with.
Donaldson sued Virtual Dining Concepts over what he alleges to be subpar quality of burgers the business created in a deal with the YouTuber. According to court documents, Donaldson teamed with Virtual Dining to launch MrBeast Burger in 2020. 1,000 ghost kitchen locations were created the following year.
The complaint said Virtual Dining Concept was more interested in expanding the business in order to attract other celebrities to the virtual restaurant model than focusing on the quality of the burgers. Virtual Dining Concept has dismissed the allegations, calling the lawsuit “riddled with false statements and inaccuracies.”
The Meta CEO asked if she saw the octagon he put in the backyard. She said “yes” and added “I’ve been working on that grass for two years.”
He asked people to vote on whether he should keep the octagon or save the grass. So far, 62% have voted to keep the octagon.
There has been no photo evidence yet to prove the octagon actually is there or if it was just a joke between the couple. While there is still no guarantee the fight between the billionaires will take place, reports indicate they have been actively talking about how to make it happen.
President Biden in Ireland to celebrate peace and heritage: April 12 rundown
President Joe Biden traveled to Ireland to celebrate the 25th anniversary of an agreement that ended decades of turmoil in the country. And a warning from the FBI on using public phone charging stations. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
President Biden visits Ireland
President Biden arrived in Northern Ireland overnight. The trip marks 25 years since the U.S. helped broker a peace deal, the Good Friday Agreement, that brought an end to more than 30 years of violence in Ireland. The Wednesday celebration of the peace agreement comes at a time the area is seeing unrest.
Hours ahead of the president’s visit, police recovered four suspected pipe bombs from a cemetery. And in recent days, attacks have been carried out on police.
Biden has already met with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and is expected to meet with Ireland’s president and prime minister.
While a portion of the trip will be for diplomacy, the president will spend April 12-15 abroad also exploring his roots as an Irish Catholic.
His son Hunter Biden, along with other relatives, are also taking part in the president’s Irish heritage journey this week.
Biden will visit two Irish towns connected to his family history on both his mother’s and father’s sides.
Ahead of the trip, the White House distributed an extensive family genealogy stretching as far back as 1803.
Fentanyl with xylazine threat to the U.S.
For the first time in history, a substance has been declared an “emerging threat” to the U.S.
The White House has declared the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, combined with xylazine, an animal tranquilizer often found in illicit drugs, is threatening the country due to its role in the opioid crisis. The drug is an animal sedative being mixed with fentanyl and found in almost all 50 states.
Declaring the drug “an emerging threat” initiates a national response process that must be implemented within 90 days.
According to the DEA, nearly a quarter of all fentanyl powder seized contained xylazine. Xylazine is FDA approved for use as a tranquilizer in veterinary medicine.
Our Washington correspondent Ray Bogan has a report on how Congress is looking to get involved to slow down the deadly impact of the drug.
Arrests made in migrant center fire
Last month a deadly fire that broke out inside a migration detention center in Mexico near El Paso, Texas. Now, officials say the 40 migrants who died had no chance of surviving. The person with the key to their locked jail cell wasn’t there when the fire broke out.
The head of Mexico’s immigration agency will face criminal charges along with other staff for one of Mexico’s deadliest migrant tragedies. Mexican authorities say the fire inside was started by migrants who set foam mattresses on fire in protest of their deportation.
The supervisor wasn’t on the premises and other surrounding staff were seen running from the scene. Authorities say they did not have keys to the jail cells.
So far, five people linked to the incident have been arrested.
FBI warns against public phone charging
While phone charging stations around airports, malls, hotels and businesses are meant to be a convenience for customers, it could also be putting your data in danger.
The FBI is warning of public charging spaces, saying hackers have been able to infect them with malware. If they’re able to get into your device, they could access your private messages, emails and other data. They could also install tracking software on your device.
The FBI suggests carrying your own portable charger when you’re in public spaces.
U.N. instructs Afghan workers to stay home
The United Nations says it’s being forced to instruct all of its personnel in Afghanistan to stay away from its offices in the country.
“U.N. national personnel, both women and men, have been instructed not to report to U.N. offices, with only limited and calibrated exceptions made for critical tasks. But they will be working from home and continue to be paid,” U.N. Secretary-General Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.
The announcement was triggered by the Taliban’s ban on females working with the organization. Afghan men working for the U.N. stayed home last week in solidarity with their female colleagues.
The Taliban announced women were no longer allowed to work for national or international organizations in December and are now enforcing that measure with the U.N.
It’s the latest setback for women in the country following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021 when the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan.
Schwarzenegger fills L.A. pothole
Arnold Schwarzenegger is reporting for duty! The actor and former California governor has been spotted filling potholes.
This pothole in a Los Angeles neighborhood has been visible and growing for weeks. It’s been ruining car tires and bikes in the process. So, Arnold Schwarzenegger took matters into his own hands. He bought some bags of concrete and filled the pothole himself.
California was ravaged by a stormy winter season. The conditions are taking a toll on roads. Los Angeles has received 20,000 requests for pothole repairs from its residents.
Gen Z smartphone use in US military a security concern
U.S. military recruiters have faced multiple headwinds in recent years. Not only are fewer Americans signing up, but more than 70% of Americans aged 17-24 are already ineligible to join.
The Americans who are signing up are bringing with them a 21st century challenge for officers: how can they keep troops off their smartphones?
Gen Z members, born between 1997 and 2012, are digital natives who have never known a world without smartphones. A Pew research study found almost half of American teenagers report being online almost constantly.
On Wednesday, Marine Commandant General David Berger said the addiction to digital devices can have a negative impact on a mission’s operational security. Tech-savvy enemy forces can track a phone’s electronic signature and use that data to identify enemy locations.
The dangers of using unsecured smartphones are on full display in the war in Ukraine. Perhaps the most prominent example featured a Russian general and his staff being killed by Ukrainians after his phone call was intercepted.
The U.S. military was concerned about servicemembers using personal electronic devices long before the war in Ukraine. In 2020, during a training exercise, a Marine lance corporal was responsible for fictitiously getting his unit killed after he posted a selfie online, which was then geolocated. Also in 2020, when the 82nd Airborne deployed to the Middle East, its members had to leave smartphones and laptops behind due to security concerns.
The military already bans some apps for deployed troops. Fitness-tracking apps were banned in 2018 because heat maps showing the exercise routes troops were using kept popping up online. TikTok is also banned on military devices.
