The Bureau instructed its counterterrorism unit to conduct "initial exploitation" of protesters' devices.
The US intelligence services use technology to hack terrorists' phones, but now they seem to have begun using them against participants in civil disobedience. According to NYR Daily, in mid-July this year, the FBI sent its Fly Team counterterrorism unit to Portland to "initialize" phones and other devices belonging to anti-racist protesters.
In e-mails received by NYR Daily, Special Agent George Chamberlain, who is currently retired, requested Fly Team's assistance in conducting "investigative measures."
It is possible that in the case of the hacking of the phones of the protesters in Portland, the FBI exceeded its powers. Fly Team co-founder Raymond Holcomb said it was unclear what authority the FBI had to search phones, or whether the agents had the consent of their owners or a court order. As Holcomb noted, the Fly Team was formed to fight terrorism with “various toolboxes,” not civil protests.
Recently, the US House of Representatives National Security Committee expressed concern that FBI agents have been keeping seized smartphones for months. The FBI declines to comment on the details of the operation, citing the investigation is still ongoing. However, as the bureau emphasized, in the case of the protests in Portland, their actions met "all legal requirements" and "were not aimed at peaceful protesters."
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The US intelligence services use technology to hack terrorists' phones, but now they seem to have begun using them against participants in civil disobedience. According to NYR Daily, in mid-July this year, the FBI sent its Fly Team counterterrorism unit to Portland to "initialize" phones and other devices belonging to anti-racist protesters.
In e-mails received by NYR Daily, Special Agent George Chamberlain, who is currently retired, requested Fly Team's assistance in conducting "investigative measures."
It is possible that in the case of the hacking of the phones of the protesters in Portland, the FBI exceeded its powers. Fly Team co-founder Raymond Holcomb said it was unclear what authority the FBI had to search phones, or whether the agents had the consent of their owners or a court order. As Holcomb noted, the Fly Team was formed to fight terrorism with “various toolboxes,” not civil protests.
Recently, the US House of Representatives National Security Committee expressed concern that FBI agents have been keeping seized smartphones for months. The FBI declines to comment on the details of the operation, citing the investigation is still ongoing. However, as the bureau emphasized, in the case of the protests in Portland, their actions met "all legal requirements" and "were not aimed at peaceful protesters."
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