30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
Cops Search Thousands of Flock Cameras for Reasons of ‘LMAO,’ ‘IDK,’ ‘Hehe,’ and ‘asdfg’
EFF analysis found police searched Flock's 19,000-camera ALPR network using joke reasons like 'LMAO' and 'idk,' exposing routine warrantless surveillance abuse.
An EFF analysis of Flock audit logs, shared with 404 Media, found officers across dozens of jurisdictions searching over 19,000 cameras in 1,558 cities with justifications like 'LMAO,' 'idk,' and keyboard gibberish between 2023 and late 2025. One Lake County, Indiana sheriff's deputy searched for a license plate across the entire network citing 'LMAO.' After outlets exposed searches targeting ICE detainees, an abortion patient, and protesters, officers were reportedly told to be 'as vague as permissible,' and Flock replaced the free-text reason box with a prepopulated drop-down list, which EFF called a loss for transparency. Departments rarely disciplined offending officers, and EFF concluded agencies cannot oversee themselves.
35
US military disabled ad tracking on troops’ devices following reports of targeted attacks
US DoD disabled ad tracking on troops' devices after foreign adversaries targeted service members using commercially bought location data.
Per letters shared with Senator Ron Wyden, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command disabled advertising IDs on iPhones, Android devices, and Windows computers across the federal military enterprise. The protections rolled out earlier in 2026, with the Air Force implementing changes in July, to prevent adversaries from exploiting app-derived location data sold through data brokers. Wyden warned that personal devices brought onto military bases could still expose troops and facilities, and noted the intelligence community and FBI buy such data without warrants.
58
Five plead guilty in latest federal ATM jackpotting case
Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty to ATM jackpotting conspiracy tied to Ploutus malware, as FBI tallies $58 million in losses since 2021.
Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty in Kansas federal court to conspiracy to commit bank larceny for attempted ATM jackpotting attacks in Wamego and Manhattan in December 2025; Luis Velasquez-Artigas was sentenced to nine months. The FBI says jackpotting has caused over $58 million in losses since 2021, with more than 1,900 incidents tracked since 2020 and over 700 in 2025. Separately, Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera was sentenced to eight years and ordered to pay restitution for using Ploutus malware to steal more than $3.5 million from hundreds of ATMs. Prosecutors link the schemes to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and say at least 119 people have been charged.
35
Finland appeals court revives case against Eagle S Officers over cable breaks
Finnish appeals court ruled Finland can prosecute Eagle S officers for 2024 Baltic Sea cable breaks, reviving the case and EUR 105M damages claims.
The Helsinki Court of Appeal ruled Finland has jurisdiction to prosecute three senior officers of the Eagle S, the Russia-linked tanker that severed multiple subsea cables on December 25, 2024, overturning a district court dismissal. The court found the crew's conduct after Finnish authorities made contact was not a 'maritime accident' under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, noting the ship dragged its anchor roughly 90 kilometers and cut four more cables. Owners of the Estlink 2 power cable, Fingrid and Elering, are seeking about EUR 105 million ($122 million), and the ruling will guide the related Fitburg anchor-dragging case. The decision can be appealed to Finland's Supreme Court until October 26, 2026.
48
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30