Police reconsider facial recognition, other tech
The U.S. may see a decline in the use of certain technologies used by law enforcement, including facial recognition, as calls for reimagining policing continue to grow.
Politics
Mask exemptions are a rarity in the law
Twitter is awash with examples of people refusing to wear face masks in stores, businesses posting signs flouting local mask mandates and patrons sporting badges with legal-ese claiming they’re exempt from mask-wearing. But the law is largely on the side of the mandates.
Fourth Amendment case raises larger questions
The sentiment on the streets on the need for police reforms appears to be seeping into the halls of justice. That includes questions about Fourth Amendment rights prohibiting illegal search and seizure.
Social media can be a tool or a weapon for police
Law enforcement agencies use social media in various ways to monitor crime and communicate with the population. But there are few laws on what they can and cannot do with someone’s personal information.
Chokeholds lose favor in many, not all, police departments
Fewer police departments are allowing the use of chokeholds since the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in May. But the practice is continuing in numerous locations. Meanwhile, families affected by the use of this method of subduing suspects are still seeking justice in cases where it has led to the death of a loved one. And protesters are still on the streets calling for police reform that would reduce the use of deadly force.
Who’s watching? New surveillance atlas shows you
Cameras are everywhere, but a new tool, the Atlas of Surveillance, has information on more than 3,000 cities.
Black, deaf Americans face extra obstacles when dealing with police
Black, deaf Americans face an extra layer of obstacles when interacting with police.
Your privacy is disappearing, and you’re helping it along
The right to privacy is disappearing in today’s electronic age, and most people are letting it happen.
Uber, Lyft drivers earn win in battle for unemployment benefits
After a long-fought battle, a New York judge recently gave contract drivers for rideshare companies Uber and Lyft the right to receive unemployment benefits. That state has 45 days to clear up the backlog of claims for these gig workers.
Voting rights battle has U.S. Postal Service at the center
The postmaster general has temporarily backed off initiatives that many say would suppress mail-in voting.