Chief: Drones 'certainly' coming to skies over Beltway Prince William County Police Chief Charlie Deane and Fairfax County Police Chief David Rohrer. (WTOP/Paul D. Shinkman) Full "Ask the Chief" live blog below Paul D. Shinkman , wtop.com Mark Segraves , wtop.com WASHINGTON - Look up. The use of drones in the D.C. area became public information last week, after the Federal Aviation Administration released a list of agencies currently or previously permitted to use the unmanned aerial vehicles. "Drones will certainly have a purpose and a reason to be in this region in the next, coming years," said Fairfax County Police Chief David Rohrer, while speaking on WTOP's "Ask the Chief" program on Monday. The use of drones over U.S. soil has some in Congress concerned about Americans' privacy rights. "The potential for invasive surveillance of daily activities with drone technology is high," wrote Rep. Rep. "However, if used improperly or unethically, drones could endanger privacy and I want to make sure that risk is taken into consideration," he said.
SOCIAL MEDIA “TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION”: Spying and Propaganda using Facebook, Twitter By Julie Lévesque Global Research, February 15, 2012 A new study by the Mediterranean Council for Intelligence Studies’ (MCIS) 2012 Intelligence Studies Yearbook points to the use of social media as “the new cutting edge in open-source tactical intelligence collection”. IntelNews.org’s Joseph Fitsanakis, who co-authored the study, reports: We explain that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a host of other social networking platforms are increasingly viewed by intelligence agencies as invaluable channels of information acquisition. By JOSEPH FITSANAKIS | intelNews.org |During the past four years, this blog has reported several incidents pointing to the increasing frequency with which spy agencies of various countries are utilizing social networking media as sources of tactical intelligence. What the study fails to mention, however, is the use of social media by intelligence agencies for other purposes.
Free The Press: Supporting Journalists Under Duress Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Journalists are being silenced around the world. In too many places, they are imprisoned, attacked, intimidated, disappeared, exiled or murdered for trying to report the news or exercise their freedom of expression. In the weeks leading up to World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the U.S. Added 5/3: Transcript of Secretary Clinton’s World Press Freedom Day Video Added 5/3: President Obama’s World Press Freedom Day Statement Free The Press Free The Press… From Disappearances Free The Press… From Attack and Impunity Free The Press… From Initimidation Free The Press… From Imprisonment Free The Press… From Detention Free The Press… From Indirect Censorship Free The Press… From Travel Bans Free The Press… From Exile Additional Resources Spokesperson Nuland on the Ethiopian Court’s Sentencing of Eskinder Nega in a Anti-Terrorism Trial on July 14 Fact Sheet: U.S. Speaking Out on World Press Freedom Day May 3, 2012 – U.S.
Advancing Freedom and Democracy Reports 2010 U.S. Government Support for Democracy and Human Rights The long-term security of the United States depends on our unwavering support for the expansion of democracy and human rights abroad. Promotion of universal values – freedom of expression, assembly, association, and religion – is the most effective, long-term way to strengthen international stability, reduce regional conflicts, counter terrorism, and extend peace and prosperity. U.S. policy is guided by principled engagement, not only with democratic or politically transitioning countries, but with non-democratic regimes to advance individual rights and democratic governance. The U.S. Democratic Governance and Civil Society The U.S. Elections and Political Processes The United States promotes free and fair elections through training of election officials at all levels of government and support for NGO coalitions to observe local and national elections, as well as political party development projects.[21] The U.S. Rule of Law The U.S.
US develops 'panic button' for democracy activists Internet 'Cloaking Device': Why Crooks and Cops Both Love TOR Until it was busted this week, an Internet drug ring doing business in 34 countries, all 50 states and the District of Columbia, eluded law enforcement by using TOR, an encrypted computer network developed for--and used by--the federal government. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California in Los Angeles says eight of the ring's kingpins—six from the U.S. and one each from Argentina and the Netherlands—have now been arrested. The bust was a result of a coordinated effort by the DEA, the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, the U.S. The substances included LSD, MDMA (ecstasy), fentanyl, mescaline, ketamine, DMT, and high-end marijuana. The site made money by charging a commission based on the value of each order. Such sites are part of the "Dark Web"—a furtive corner of the Internet used for deals in drugs, guns, fake IDs, child pornography, and other illicit or illegal goods. Farmer's Market had been extremely good at hiding. Also Read
U.S. funding tech firms that help Mideast dissidents evade government censors The Obama administration may not be lending arms to dissidents in the Middle East, but it is offering aid in another critical way: helping them surf the Web anonymously as they seek to overthrow their governments. Federal agencies - such as the State Department, the Defense Department and the Broadcasting Board of Governors - have been funding a handful of technology firms that allow people to get online without being tracked or to visit news or social media sites that governments have blocked. Many of these little-known organizations - such as the Tor Project and UltraReach- are unabashedly supportive of the activists in the Middle East. But the United States' backing of these firms has the potential to put the government in an awkward diplomatic position, not only with the countries where uprisings are active, but also with economic partners such as Saudi Arabia and China, which are known to block Web sites they deem dangerous. Still, he worries about the technology's safety. Daniel B.
Request for Statements of Interest: Internet Freedom Programs Note: The deadline for this Request for Proposals has passed. Department of State Public Notice Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Proposals: Democracy, Human Rights, and Rule of Law in the Near East Region. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Proposals from organizations interested in submitting proposals for projects that promote democracy, human rights, and rule of law in the Near East region. PLEASE NOTE: DRL strongly urges applicants to access immediately www.grants.gov in order to obtain a username and password. DRL invites organizations to submit proposals outlining program concepts and capacity to manage projects targeting the following issues: Empowerment and Protection of Persons with Disabilities in the Near East. Please refer directly to DRL’s posted Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI), updated in November 2012, available at
GrantSolutions Javascript for date formatting GrantSolutions-4.7.5.11 4/14/2014 Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Joint Request for Statements of Interest: Internet Freedom Programs Disclaimer: This a global call for statements of interest; program proposals need not be restricted to the NEA region. Notes: DRL and NEA strongly urge applicants to register with either www.grantsolutions.gov or www.grants.gov immediately to request a username and password. Applicants must submit proposals using either www.grantsolutions.gov or www.grants.gov by 11:30 p.m. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications via www.grantsolutions.gov. Please note for new grants.gov users: In order to safeguard the security of applicants’ electronic information, www.grants.gov utilizes a credential provider. Organizations that are invited to submit a full proposal for Federal grants will need to be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) at
Clear and Present Danger: Attempts to Change Internet Governance and Implications for Press Freedom Tuesday, June 26, 2012 The Center for International Media Assistance at the National Endowment for Democracy held a panel discussion on Read a summary of the event here >> Watch a video recording of the event below: In November, the United Nations will organize its seventh annual Internet Governance Forum in Azerbaijan, which Freedom House rates as Partly Free on its Freedom on the Net 2011 survey. One month later, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations agency, will hold a meeting of world governments that will include proposals touching on Internet regulation. Featuring: Emma Llansó Center for Democracy and Technology Rebecca MacKinnon New America Foundation Emin Milli University of London Katitza Rodriguez Electronic Frontier Foundation Moderated by: Susan Morgan Global Network Initiative Tuesday, June 26, 2012 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. About the speakers: Emma Llansó is policy counsel with the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT).