Hacked Prayer App Sends 'Surrender' Messages to Iranians Amid Israeli and US Strikes
As Israeli airstrikes targeted Tehran, Iranians using the popular prayer app Salaam received push notifications promising "help is on the way" and amnesty for surrender. The psychological operation exploited trusted spiritual infrastructure to deliver wartime propaganda directly to mobile devices. The breach represents a new attack vector targeting religious and wellness applications during active hostilities.
WIRED • Mar 2
SURVEILLANCE CYBERWAR MEMETIC
Evolving descriptive text of mental content from human brain activity
AI systems can now decode mental content from brain activity with increasing specificity. Research demonstrates non-invasive neural decoding that translates thought patterns into descriptive text without surgical implantation, advancing capabilities previously requiring implanted devices.
BBC Future • Mar 2
SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY TECH
Space Force opens secretive space tracking to commercial firms
The U.S. Space Force is integrating commercial data and artificial intelligence into its classified satellite tracking systems. The initiative, part of what the military calls battle management, command and control, aims to improve space domain awareness by distinguishing normal orbital maneuvers from potential hostile intent. Commercial data feeds combined with AI prediction models compress decision timelines ten- to one hundred-fold, allowing operators to assess threats and respond before an attack materializes.
SpaceNews • Mar 1
SURVEILLANCE AI INFRASTRUCTURE
Hackers hit Iranian apps, websites after US-Israeli strikes
Cyber-enabled operations accompanied joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran early Saturday. State-linked Iranian hacking groups conducted data-wiping attacks on Israeli targets, while unidentified actors defaced the BadeSaba religious calendar app—downloaded by over 5 million users—with messages urging Iranian armed forces to disarm. CrowdStrike observed Iranian-aligned threat actors conducting reconnaissance and DDoS attacks alongside physical military operations.
Reuters • Mar 1
SURVEILLANCE CYBERCRIME CYBERWAR
Meta won’t let morality get in the way of a product launch
Meta has introduced "Name Tag," a facial recognition feature for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that identifies people in real-time using cameras and AI. The launch comes as ICE expands surveillance operations and the administration weaponizes deportation infrastructure, with the company maintaining close ties to federal authorities. Unlike previous facial recognition controversies that sparked public backlash, this deployment arrives amid normalized surveillance conditions where biometric identification is becoming ambient infrastructure embedded in consumer devices.
The Verge • Mar 1
NEOCORP SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
China Asked ChatGPT for Help Crafting Online Harassment Campaigns
OpenAI's threat intelligence report reveals Chinese government operatives used ChatGPT to refine 'cyber special operations' targeting political dissidents abroad. The operation, linked to the 'Spamouflage' network, generated fake evidence for takedown requests and created impersonation accounts targeting US-based critics.
PCMag • Mar 1
SURVEILLANCE CYBERWAR SOCIAL
AI just leveled up and there are no guardrails anymore
New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores authored the first major AI safety law in the US and is now running for Congress, becoming a target for deregulation advocates. The article examines how AI development is accelerating faster than governance frameworks can adapt, with the Anthropic-Pentagon conflict highlighting the tension between safety constraints and government pressure.
CNBC • Mar 1
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE REGULATION
Major Data Brokers Tried to Hide Their Opt-Out Pages From Search Engines
Sen. Maggie Hassan's investigation found data brokers Comscore, IQVIA Digital, Telesign, and 6sense Insights used "no index" code to hide opt-out pages from search engines, preventing consumers from exercising privacy rights. The companies changed their practices after being contacted, except Findem, which failed to respond and continues blocking its opt-out form. The report estimates identity theft from four major data broker breaches cost consumers $20.9 billion.
PCMag • Feb 28
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
Trump directs US agencies to toss Anthropic's AI as Pentagon calls startup a supply risk
The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to immediately cease using Anthropic technology after the AI company refused Pentagon demands to remove guardrails on its Claude model for autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk to national security—a label typically reserved for firms from adversarial nations like China—blocking any military contractor from working with the company. The $200 million defense contract represented a small portion of Anthropic's $14 billion revenue, but the blacklisting threatens its planned public offering and broader business relationships. Anthropic stated it would challenge the designation in court.
Reuters • Feb 28
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE REGULATION
AI deepfakes are a train wreck and Samsung's selling tickets
Samsung executives acknowledged that AI-generated imagery is eroding the concept of photographic evidence, yet expressed little urgency about implementing protective measures. During a product launch, Samsung's mobile chief admitted the company sees a divide between users who want AI photo features and those concerned about reality erosion, while dodging questions about whether users should be able to remove AI watermarks from generated photos.
The Verge • Feb 28
SURVEILLANCE SOCIAL MEMETIC
Tech bills of the week: Updated AI innovation; expanding cybersecurity for SNAP; and more
New federal legislation aims to establish voluntary AI testing standards through NIST and mandate chip-enabled security for SNAP benefit cards to prevent fraud. The AI innovation bill would codify the Center for Artificial Intelligence Standards and Innovation within NIST to develop unified AI standards through public-private partnerships. Separate bipartisan legislation addresses cybersecurity gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring chip technology for EBT cards, which currently lack the protections standard for credit cards.
Nextgov/FCW • Feb 28
SURVEILLANCE REGULATION TECH
Ultrahuman is expanding its health monitoring ecosystem with the launch of Ring Pro smart ring and Jade “biointelligence AI” platform upgrade
Ultrahuman Ring Pro extends battery life to 15 days with 250 days of on-device health history storage, eliminating cloud dependency for continuous biomonitoring. The Jade AI platform introduces agentic capabilities that analyze health data across devices to generate personalized recommendations. Launch occurs amid patent litigation with Oura that has locked Ultrahuman out of the US market.
The Verge • Feb 28
SURVEILLANCE BIOMETRICS TECH
Conduent Data Breach Could Affect 25M People. Learn How to Protect Your Online Accounts
A ransomware attack on government contractor Conduent has exposed personal data of 25 million Americans across multiple state healthcare programs, including names, Social Security numbers, and medical information. The SafePay ransomware gang spent three months in Conduent's systems before discovery, exfiltrating approximately 8 terabytes of data. Many affected individuals were unaware their data flowed through Conduent's backend systems, highlighting systemic supply-chain vulnerabilities in government technology procurement.
CNET • Feb 27
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE REGULATION
Acting head of the nation's cyber agency reassigned amid rising congressional scrutiny
Madhu Gottumukkala, the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has been reassigned to a new DHS role as director of strategic implementation. The move comes amid expected congressional questioning about his leadership decisions and connections to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, now DHS Secretary. CISA faces growing oversight as Republican lawmakers scrutinize its disinformation research partnerships and seek to refocus the agency toward core infrastructure protection mandates.
POLITICO • Feb 27
SURVEILLANCE REGULATION CYBERWAR
Met police to pilot facial recognition identity checks, mayor confirms
The Metropolitan Police will deploy 100 officers using roaming facial recognition technology for six months to conduct identity checks on citizens. London Mayor Sadiq Khan backed the pilot despite previously stating the Met would consult stakeholders and ethics panels before implementing operator-initiated facial recognition. Civil liberties groups called the expansion "alarming" as the UK already deploys facial recognition via fixed cameras and retrospective systems nationwide.
The Guardian • Feb 27
SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY BIOMETRICS
Data Broker Breaches Fueled Nearly $21 Billion in Identity-Theft Losses
Congressional Democrats released findings showing data broker breaches have cost consumers tens of billions in identity theft losses. The report follows a WIRED investigation that exposed how data brokers hid opt-out pages from search engines using "no index" codes, making it nearly impossible for consumers to remove their personal information. Four companies subsequently removed the blocking code after congressional scrutiny.
WIRED • Feb 27
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
FTC declines to enforce a kids privacy law for data collected to verify users' ages
The Federal Trade Commission announced it will not enforce the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) against companies collecting personal data solely for age verification technologies, provided strict safeguards are followed. The policy shift incentivizes age verification adoption but privacy advocates warn it creates new risks. The Electronic Frontier Foundation noted that age verification systems have already experienced data breaches, citing a Discord incident where 70,000 users had government IDs exposed through a third-party vendor.
The Verge • Feb 27
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
US tells diplomats to lobby against foreign data sovereignty laws
The Trump administration has ordered U.S. diplomats to lobby against foreign governments' data sovereignty laws, arguing that regulations restricting how American tech companies handle foreigners' data would disrupt global data flows, increase costs and cybersecurity risks, limit AI and cloud services, and expand government control. A February 18 State Department cable signed by Secretary Marco Rubio instructs diplomatic posts to push back against data localization requirements in Europe and other jurisdictions.
TechCrunch • Feb 26
CORPORATE GEOPOLITICS SURVEILLANCE
Lawmakers Ask Tech Companies What User Data They Provided to D.H.S.
US lawmakers demanded answers from Meta, Google and other technology companies following reporting that the Department of Homeland Security issued subpoenas for user information tied to accounts tracking or commenting on ICE activities. The requests come amid scrutiny over DHS cooperation with tech platforms on surveillance targeting immigration-related political content.
The New York Times • Feb 26
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
Hide from Meta's spyglasses with this new Android app
Developer Yves Jeanrenaud has released "Nearby Glasses," an open-source Android application that detects nearby Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses via Bluetooth signals. The app arrives as Meta reportedly prepares to add facial recognition capabilities to its wearable devices, raising concerns from domestic abuse charities about enabling stalkers to covertly identify and track individuals in public spaces.
The Register • Feb 26
SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY BIOMETRICS
Meta's AI sending 'junk' tips to DoJ, US child abuse investigators say
Meta's AI-powered content moderation systems are flooding US law enforcement with low-quality, unreliable reports about child sexual abuse material, according to officers from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. The flood of useless tips is draining investigative resources and hindering actual cases. The issue emerged during a New Mexico lawsuit against Meta over child safety on its platforms, where the company has defended its cooperation with law enforcement while facing questions about whether its automated detection systems create more noise than signal.
The Guardian • Feb 25
SURVEILLANCE SOCIAL TECH
Tech Companies Shouldn't Be Bullied Into Doing Surveillance
The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports that the Secretary of Defense has issued an ultimatum to AI company Anthropic, threatening to terminate government contracts if the company does not make its technology available to the U.S. military without use restrictions. The EFF is urging Anthropic to refuse the demands and maintain its principles against surveillance applications.
Electronic Frontier Foundation • Feb 25
CORPORATE GEOPOLITICS SURVEILLANCE
AP report: Hegseth warns Anthropic to let the military use company's AI tech as it sees fit
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei a Friday deadline to allow unrestricted military use of the company's AI technology or risk losing its Pentagon contract. The ultimatum applies to a $200 million defense contract awarded last summer alongside Google, OpenAI, and xAI. Pentagon officials threatened to designate Anthropic a supply chain risk or invoke the Defense Production Act to compel compliance. The pressure campaign follows months of tension between Anthropic's state-level AI regulation advocacy and the administration's deregulation agenda.
PBS News • Feb 25
CORPORATE GEOPOLITICS SURVEILLANCE
Facial recognition error prompts police to arrest Asian man for burglary 100 miles away
Thames Valley Police arrested Alvi Choudhury after automated facial recognition software falsely matched him with footage of a burglary suspect in Milton Keynes, 100 miles away. The match was made despite the suspect appearing "10 years younger" with clear physical differences. Choudhury, who was held for 17 hours before being cleared, is claiming damages and calling for transparency about wrongful arrests involving facial recognition technology. The case adds to documented concerns about demographic bias in automated facial recognition systems.
The Guardian • Feb 25
INEQUALITY SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
If Big Tech cared about fighting AI slop, we wouldn't be drowning in it
Analysis argues that C2PA provenance standards and platform labeling efforts are failing to stem AI-generated "slop" flooding social media because adoption remains fragmented and detection tools cannot match industrial-scale synthetic content production. Platforms including YouTube, Instagram, and Meta have only partially implemented authentication systems while X has abandoned C2PA entirely following Musk's acquisition, allowing millions of daily users to remain unprotected from engagement-optimized synthetic media that buries authentic creator content.
The Verge • Feb 24
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE SOCIAL
SDA taps AST SpaceMobile to demo commercial satellite links to military radios
The Space Development Agency awarded AST SpaceMobile USA a $30 million contract under the Hybrid Acquisition for proliferated Low-earth Orbit program's Europa Track 2 initiative. The company will use its BlueBird satellite constellation—currently six satellites in orbit with a seventh launching soon—to demonstrate direct tactical communications with existing military radios. Unlike traditional proprietary military satellite systems, AST's "bent-pipe" architecture uses commercial infrastructure to provide high-bandwidth data transport from low Earth orbit for defense applications.
Breaking Defense • Feb 24
CORPORATE GEOPOLITICS SURVEILLANCE