Three suspects connected to an organized burglary ring were arrested in Irvine after police conducted surveillance and found them in possession of suspected burglary tools. The men, identified as Chilean nationals, were charged with suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, providing false information to a police officer, and possession of burglary tools. Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent commended the department's work and warned potential criminals against victimizing the community.
San Francisco voters approved ballot measures to increase police surveillance, allow officers to pursue suspects with drones, and mandate drug screenings for welfare recipients. The city has been grappling with a surge in crime and public disorder, prompting a shift towards tougher law enforcement policies. Mayor London Breed, facing re-election, supported these measures amid challenges from fellow Democrats. The city's descent into lawlessness has led to business departures and record drug overdose deaths, prompting a pivot in law enforcement funding and policies.
Mayor Brandon Johnson expects ShotSpotter to remain in Chicago through September, but has not clarified whether the company has agreed to the contract extension needed to keep the police tool running. While Johnson's administration announced the city's intention to end the use of ShotSpotter in September, some aldermen claim the company rejected a short-term contract extension. The lack of clarity has led to uncertainty about the technology's future in Chicago, with officials and the company refusing to answer questions about its operation after the current contract expires.
Amazon's Ring has announced that it will no longer facilitate police's warrantless requests for footage from Ring users, marking a victory in the fight against blanket police surveillance and the erosion of customer trust. However, concerns remain about police obtaining footage directly from device owners without a warrant, and the need for Ring to do more to protect user privacy, such as implementing default end-to-end encryption and turning off default audio collection. The fight for privacy and to end Ring’s historic ill-effects on society continues, as the mass existence of doorbell cameras poses ongoing threats to civil liberties and exacerbates racial discrimination.
Trading in shares of China Evergrande, one of China's largest property developers, has been suspended after reports that its chairman, Hui Ka Yan, has been placed under police surveillance. The company, which has over $300 billion in liabilities, is facing a growing threat of liquidation as it struggles with a debt crisis in China's property sector. Evergrande's restructuring plan is now at risk of failing, and the risks of the company being liquidated are increasing. Trading in its Hong Kong-listed shares and those of its property services and electric vehicle units has been suspended.
The Israeli cabinet has approved the formation of a committee to investigate the use of spyware technology by law enforcement, despite opposition from the attorney general. The committee will examine the procurement, surveillance, and data collection practices of the police and State Attorney's Office. The inquiry is a response to the recent spyware scandal that revealed the police's use of cellphone hacking technology to access citizens' devices. The committee's findings will help establish regulations for the use of such tools and restore public trust. The attorney general expressed concerns about interference with ongoing cases, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial.
