GoKawiil
Tech News
Patagonia organized a virtual 'Know Your Voting Rights' session with the American Civil Liberties Union for employees and grantees just days before the election. Nearly 100 participants learned how to vote without obstruction, avoid intimidation at the polls, and ensure their ballots are properly counted, along with guidance on helping others do the same.
The ACLU has documented cases where police stopped drivers based only on AI-powered automatic license plate reader (ALPR) data flagging their travel as 'suspicious,' with no other cause. In one 2025 case, a woman driving through multiple states to Florida was pulled over by a self-identified FBI agent after her out-of-state plate and travel pattern looked unusual in the ALPR database. These nationwide camera networks, often built by Flock, let authorities search vehicle movements without a warrant.
The ACLU has raised concerns that police departments are using automated license plate reader systems to analyze drivers' travel patterns and flag them as 'suspicious,' leading to traffic stops. The organization says this surveillance technology tracks vehicle movements over time rather than just checking plates against watchlists, raising questions about how such stops are justified.
Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer at the ACLU, said business leaders should use their public influence to support democracy and free and fair elections ahead of the midterms. She framed executives as trusted community voices capable of shaping public confidence in the electoral process.
The ACLU published a report on October 26 alleging that police departments are using AI systems analyzing automated license plate reader (ALPR) data to flag drivers' travel patterns as 'suspicious,' then stopping them under pretext of minor traffic violations. Policy analyst Jay Stanley cited cases, including a woman stopped on a cross-country trip after her driving history triggered an alert, with some officers allegedly not disclosing the real reason for the stop.
EFF joined the ACLU, ACLU of D.C., and photography trade groups in an amicus brief urging the D.C. Circuit to strike down an FAA drone flight restriction in Levine v. FAA. The rule had barred drones from flying near DHS officers and vehicles, including ICE and CBP convoys, effectively blocking aerial recording of immigration enforcement even from over half a mile away. Although the FAA rescinded the restriction in April after being sued, the petitioner argues the case should still be decided because past violations remain punishable and the agency could reimpose the rule.
A Fast Company panel featuring executives from Lyft, All Voting Is Local, and the ACLU discussed how the 2026 midterm elections could reshape federal and state policy in ways that directly affect companies. Moderated by Fast Company's Amy Farley, the discussion focused on how shifting political control could influence trade, immigration, technology, and economic regulation. Panelists also highlighted the growing role of state governments in setting rules on AI, data privacy, climate, and energy.