TSA designation of Algeria as suspect nation upset the Algerian government

Tag and track automated surveillance is coming

More on the militarization of the police

The ACLU's Catherine Crump and Center for Investigative Reporting's George Schulz were on DemocracyNow! today discussing the militarization of US policing. Watch:

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DA Conley’s office subpoenas Occupy Boston Twitter account information

(Well, it tried: the DA's office asked for the wrong account!)

On the Friday before Christmas (today), CORRECTION: On December 20, 2011, Twitter revealed to the targets that Assistant District Attorney of Suffolk County (Boston) Benjamin Goldberger had subpoenaed their account information in a document dated December 14, 2011. ADA Goldberger asked for: 

FBI likely has documents on Occupy SF

When Truthout managing editor Jason Leopold filed a request to the FBI asking for records related to law enforcement action around the Occupy movements, the agency told him they had no such records. 

On October 31, 2011, Leopold asked the agency for:

Data-mining: terrorism prevention or social control?

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Occupy Boston voluntary dismissal of suit against City of Boston

Occupy Boston plaintiffs agree to voluntary dismissal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2011

BOSTON -- Plaintiffs from Occupy Boston today filed a voluntary dismissal, ending their lawsuit against the City of Boston, Occupy Boston v. City of Boston, et al. The participants in Occupy Boston have decided that continuing to pursue their goals of a more socially and economically just and democratic society may be better accomplished through means other than slow-moving long-term litigation. 

Minnesota’s “Gangnet” database shut

Minnestoa's Community Justice Project, along with the NAACP and ACLU, has succeeded in putting a stop to that city's version of the Commonwealth's MassGangs database, "Gangnet". Police say they weren't using the database, but community groups hail it as a victory in the war against unchecked spying.

ACLUm statement on Tarek Mehanna verdict

Mehanna verdict compromises First Amendment, undermines national security Decision today threatens writers and journalists, academic researchers, translators, and even ordinary web surfers. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, December 20, 2011 CONTACT: Christopher Ott, Communications Director, 617-482-3170 x322, cott [at] aclum [dot] org BOSTON -- The following statement on the conviction today of Tarek Mehanna may be attributed to American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts executive director Carol Rose:

Senate joins House in passing NDAA bill; now on to President’s desk

NDAA passes 86-13 in the Senate. 

The bill now moves to the President's desk, where he will likely sign it.