Cindy Cohn and Bruce Schneier trace how post-9/11 mass surveillance infrastructure, originally justified for counterterrorism, has expanded into routine domestic policing, immigration enforcement by ICE, and private security systems like facial recognition and license plate readers. They highlight that government agencies increasingly rely on private companies' data—including purchasing information directly from data brokers, as confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel—rather than going through traditional legal channels.
lawfaremedia.org
· 2026-09-15
An EFF essay co-authored with Cindy Cohn argues that surveillance tools built after Sept. 11 for counterterrorism have expanded far beyond that purpose, now used routinely by agencies like ICE and local police, and increasingly fused with private systems such as facial recognition and license-plate readers. It highlights that most of this data actually originates with private companies, including data brokers, which sell information to agencies like the FBI.
schneier.com
· 2026-09-15
Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven, has published a new novel called Exit Party, which follows characters living through two divergent near-future American scenarios: one marked by post-civil-war chaos and another by an oppressive surveillance state. She began writing it in 2022, before recent political developments like intensified ICE enforcement and expanded tech surveillance, yet the book's themes resonate strongly with current events.
wired.com
· 2026-09-15
NASA and IBM have jointly published an open-source AI system, along with a compiled dataset drawing on over 30 aligned data layers from nine instruments across four lunar missions. The model merges multiple imaging types, angles, and resolutions to let researchers study the Moon's surface more comprehensively than existing tools allow.
science.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-13
Scientists reportedly produced a previously unknown crystalline form of water ice while subjecting samples to temperatures near 2,357 degrees Celsius, conditions far beyond those where ice normally exists. The extreme heat was paired with high pressure to force water molecules into a novel structural arrangement not seen in standard ice phases.
science.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-12
A massive iceberg that calved from one of Greenland's largest glaciers has drifted for months before colliding with Joe Island off the coast. Despite the impact, the enormous ice slab did not break apart and continues its journey through Arctic waters.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-07
Court filings reveal Homeland Security Investigations agents subpoenaed REI in March, seeking purchase records for anyone in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area who bought a particular dark green beanie since 2024. The request is one of 92 subpoenas issued as part of a federal lawsuit against 39 people, including protesters and journalists, connected to a demonstration at an ICE-linked church. Other subpoenas reportedly sought data from social media firms, airlines, telecom companies, and a car rental agency, with one airline allegedly asked to flag a defendant's future travel.
wired.com
· 2026-09-04
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has published documents outlining plans to award a contract worth up to $5 million for building a national database of voter registration and voting history records. The contract, managed by Homeland Security Investigations, would require the winning company to pull publicly available voter files from all 50 states, including data on which federal elections people voted in. ICE says the contractor won't initially be asked to collect party affiliation data, but that could change if a contracting officer directs it in writing.
wired.com
· 2026-09-02
Taco Bell has launched a new frozen dessert called the Churro Ice Cream Taco, priced at $3.99. The item features a waffle shell dipped in chocolate and filled with a new churro-flavored ice cream, drawing comparisons to the discontinued Choco Taco. It arrives alongside another frozen menu addition as summer winds down.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-02
Scientists analyzed ice cores extracted from a glacier in Peru, finding trapped air bubbles that preserve a historical record of atmospheric methane concentrations. The ice-locked data allows researchers to track methane trends across an extended timeline, offering a rare Southern Hemisphere perspective on the greenhouse gas's history.
nature.com
· 2026-09-02
Snoop Dogg's ice cream company Dr. Bombay is hiring an international taste tester at $10,000 per month, working with hiring platform Deel to find candidates worldwide. The role is meant to help the brand, founded in 2023 with his son Cordell Broadus, scout global flavor trends as it expands beyond the U.S. Applicants apply through Deel's site by answering questions about their ice cream habits and pitching a favorite food combo.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-08-31
A Department of Homeland Security procurement notice reveals plans to buy Boston Dynamics' Spot quadruped robots and accessories for between $1 million and $2 million. The robots would be used by ICE for inspection, situational awareness, and hazard assessment in risky or hard-to-access environments before officers enter. A DHS official confirmed to NBC News that the robots would not be used for apprehending people or making arrests.
techspot.com
· 2026-08-31
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