Emile Ayoub
@emileayoub.bsky.social
Senior Counsel at the Brennan Center | Lakers enthusiast | LA raised, NY based, 🇱🇧 heritage | UCI Law ‘16, UCLA ‘12 | views my own
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
New: cops used Flock AI-enabled cameras to monitor No Kings protests around the country. Also monitored No Hands protests and protests against DOGE.
"Should serve as a warning of how it may be used in the future to suppress dissent."
www.404media.co/cops-used-fl...
"Should serve as a warning of how it may be used in the future to suppress dissent."
www.404media.co/cops-used-fl...
Cops Used Flock to Monitor No Kings Protests Around the Country
A massive cache of Flock lookups collated by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows as many as 50 federal, state, and local agencies used Flock during protests over the last year.
www.404media.co
November 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
New: cops used Flock AI-enabled cameras to monitor No Kings protests around the country. Also monitored No Hands protests and protests against DOGE.
"Should serve as a warning of how it may be used in the future to suppress dissent."
www.404media.co/cops-used-fl...
"Should serve as a warning of how it may be used in the future to suppress dissent."
www.404media.co/cops-used-fl...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
The FBI infiltrated an encrypted chat of immigration court watchers in New York. Then it issued intelligence calling them violent extremists—terrorists.
As I told @theguardian.com, this targeting of people who show up for immigrants is straight COINTELPRO:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
As I told @theguardian.com, this targeting of people who show up for immigrants is straight COINTELPRO:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
The FBI infiltrated an encrypted chat of immigration court watchers in New York. Then it issued intelligence calling them violent extremists—terrorists.
As I told @theguardian.com, this targeting of people who show up for immigrants is straight COINTELPRO:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
As I told @theguardian.com, this targeting of people who show up for immigrants is straight COINTELPRO:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Important report and 🧵 on police departmens' growing use of data fusion tools.
Thread 🧵🧵🧵👇👇👇
Happy to share that @iveydyson.bsky.social and I have a report out today on the use of AI-driven data fusion tools by police departments. 1/23 www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Happy to share that @iveydyson.bsky.social and I have a report out today on the use of AI-driven data fusion tools by police departments. 1/23 www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
The Dangers of Unregulated AI in Policing
New data fusion tools risk embedding biases and chilling free speech.
www.brennancenter.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Important report and 🧵 on police departmens' growing use of data fusion tools.
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
DHS's domestic intelligence unit got part of a discredited Chicago gang database amid efforts to put people on a watchlist. The agency operates under lax rules that it STILL broke. It's effectively unreformed and a way around local "sanctuary" laws.
By @dell.bsky.social w/ @brennancenter.org docs:
By @dell.bsky.social w/ @brennancenter.org docs:
NEW: DHS secretly obtained Chicago police data on 900 residents accused of gang ties. It was quietly deleted after intelligence officers violated rules against domestic spying.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
DHS Kept Chicago Police Records for Months in Violation of Domestic Espionage Rules
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted.
www.wired.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:52 AM
DHS's domestic intelligence unit got part of a discredited Chicago gang database amid efforts to put people on a watchlist. The agency operates under lax rules that it STILL broke. It's effectively unreformed and a way around local "sanctuary" laws.
By @dell.bsky.social w/ @brennancenter.org docs:
By @dell.bsky.social w/ @brennancenter.org docs:
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
NEW: DHS secretly obtained Chicago police data on 900 residents accused of gang ties. It was quietly deleted after intelligence officers violated rules against domestic spying.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
DHS Kept Chicago Police Records for Months in Violation of Domestic Espionage Rules
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted.
www.wired.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:04 PM
NEW: DHS secretly obtained Chicago police data on 900 residents accused of gang ties. It was quietly deleted after intelligence officers violated rules against domestic spying.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
🚨 No sanctuary for dissent in Chicago: Matt Ruppert and I analyze how Illinois law enforcement run counterprotest operations that benefit ICE.
Current "sanctuary laws" don't prohibit this type of support. But they can and should.
www.justsecurity.org/124069/defen...
Current "sanctuary laws" don't prohibit this type of support. But they can and should.
www.justsecurity.org/124069/defen...
Defending 'Sanctuary' Principles During the Chicago Crackdown
Local governments must exercise their constitutional power to cut off cooperation with federal authorities that undermine residents' rights.
www.justsecurity.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:02 PM
🚨 No sanctuary for dissent in Chicago: Matt Ruppert and I analyze how Illinois law enforcement run counterprotest operations that benefit ICE.
Current "sanctuary laws" don't prohibit this type of support. But they can and should.
www.justsecurity.org/124069/defen...
Current "sanctuary laws" don't prohibit this type of support. But they can and should.
www.justsecurity.org/124069/defen...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
More evidence that so-called sanctuary laws provide little sanctuary. They’re too narrow—allowing police to do counterprotest work that benefits the feds, like in NYC yesterday.
And poorly enforced.
We’re advocating for expanding the scope and building strong enforcement mechanisms.
And poorly enforced.
We’re advocating for expanding the scope and building strong enforcement mechanisms.
NEW: I found 17 sheriffs in Illinois that have contracts to detain people for ICE through U.S. Marshals Service contracts. IL law explicitly prohibits these types of intergovernmental service agreements. news.wttw.com/2025/10/22/d...
Despite Illinois Sanctuary Laws, At Least 17 County Sheriffs Have Contracts to Hold People in ICE Custody
To ascertain if county jails are complying with the state’s TRUST Act, WTTW News sent Freedom of Information Act requests to each of the 90 county jails in Illinois to obtain copies of intergovernment...
news.wttw.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:26 PM
More evidence that so-called sanctuary laws provide little sanctuary. They’re too narrow—allowing police to do counterprotest work that benefits the feds, like in NYC yesterday.
And poorly enforced.
We’re advocating for expanding the scope and building strong enforcement mechanisms.
And poorly enforced.
We’re advocating for expanding the scope and building strong enforcement mechanisms.
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
1/5 ICE is on a shopping spree for surveillance tech to pursue purported domestic terrorists like anti-ICE protestors & antifascist/left wing groups that the admin is targeting via NSPM7. Here's some info on HSI, the little-known part of ICE that will lead.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
ICE amps up its surveillance powers, targeting immigrants and antifa
Iris scanners, facial recognition apps, phone-hacking software and cellphone location data are among the agency’s recent technological purchases.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:41 PM
1/5 ICE is on a shopping spree for surveillance tech to pursue purported domestic terrorists like anti-ICE protestors & antifascist/left wing groups that the admin is targeting via NSPM7. Here's some info on HSI, the little-known part of ICE that will lead.
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
By a 2-1 opinion, the Ninth Circuit just held that the president can federalize the National Guard forces and deploy them when protesters shine flashlights in the eyes of ICE officers. It’s one of the most dangerous and legally flawed court decisions I’ve seen this year. 1/23
October 20, 2025 at 11:40 PM
By a 2-1 opinion, the Ninth Circuit just held that the president can federalize the National Guard forces and deploy them when protesters shine flashlights in the eyes of ICE officers. It’s one of the most dangerous and legally flawed court decisions I’ve seen this year. 1/23
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
Great piece from @dell.bsky.social at @wired.com about ICE's newest foray into social media monitoring: the agency is putting out feelers for contractors who can do on-site, open source intel 24/7 for ICE's Targeting Operations Division (TOD). 1/ www.wired.com/story/ice-so...
ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team
Documents show that ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.
www.wired.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Great piece from @dell.bsky.social at @wired.com about ICE's newest foray into social media monitoring: the agency is putting out feelers for contractors who can do on-site, open source intel 24/7 for ICE's Targeting Operations Division (TOD). 1/ www.wired.com/story/ice-so...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
The military already wastes billions on subpar weapons. What's stopping it from doing the same with AI?
If defense contractors have their way, almost nothing.
My deep dive into the wild and wacky world of "acquisition reform" with @juliagledhill.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-...
If defense contractors have their way, almost nothing.
My deep dive into the wild and wacky world of "acquisition reform" with @juliagledhill.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-...
October 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The military already wastes billions on subpar weapons. What's stopping it from doing the same with AI?
If defense contractors have their way, almost nothing.
My deep dive into the wild and wacky world of "acquisition reform" with @juliagledhill.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-...
If defense contractors have their way, almost nothing.
My deep dive into the wild and wacky world of "acquisition reform" with @juliagledhill.bsky.social:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
New from 404 Media: ICE to buy tool that tracks locations of hundreds of millions of phones every day. Billions of pieces of location data. ICE previously stopped using data remotely harvested from smartphones. Now it's buying it again. Usually used w/o warrant
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
ICE to Buy Tool that Tracks Locations of Hundreds of Millions of Phones Every Day
Documents show that ICE has gone back on its decision to not use location data remotely harvested from peoples' phones. The database is updated every day with billions of pieces of location data.
www.404media.co
September 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
New from 404 Media: ICE to buy tool that tracks locations of hundreds of millions of phones every day. Billions of pieces of location data. ICE previously stopped using data remotely harvested from smartphones. Now it's buying it again. Usually used w/o warrant
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
The Trump administration plans to continuously monitor the 50+ million U.S. visas-holders for "anti-American" social media posts that could get them deported. The threat will chill free speech, which the First Amendment protects regardless of citizenship.
bit.ly/4823Brc
bit.ly/4823Brc
“Continuous Vetting” of All Visa Holders Is Impossible, but the Threat Alone Chills Free Speech
Government claims of AI-powered surveillance create an illusion of total oversight that encourages self-censorship without actually improving security.
www.brennancenter.org
October 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The Trump administration plans to continuously monitor the 50+ million U.S. visas-holders for "anti-American" social media posts that could get them deported. The threat will chill free speech, which the First Amendment protects regardless of citizenship.
bit.ly/4823Brc
bit.ly/4823Brc
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
Big takeaway here is a mass erosion of barriers between governmental and corporate data collection/surveillance--and the idea that the one-off surveillance of walking past a single CCTV camera is over, the consolidation of ALL data means true mass surveillance from 100 redundant pieces of data.
September 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Big takeaway here is a mass erosion of barriers between governmental and corporate data collection/surveillance--and the idea that the one-off surveillance of walking past a single CCTV camera is over, the consolidation of ALL data means true mass surveillance from 100 redundant pieces of data.
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
I spent the week at the police surveillance convention and let me tell you my biggest observation: The name of the game now is consolidating as much information as humanely possible from surveillance devices, the internet, other governmental data, and literally a million other places. 🧵
September 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I spent the week at the police surveillance convention and let me tell you my biggest observation: The name of the game now is consolidating as much information as humanely possible from surveillance devices, the internet, other governmental data, and literally a million other places. 🧵
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
My latest article on what state and local authorities can do to curb federal law enforcement abuses: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Federalism as a Check on Abuses by Federal Law Enforcement
States and cities have the power to decide whether and how their police departments collaborate with federal law enforcement.
www.brennancenter.org
September 18, 2025 at 3:30 AM
My latest article on what state and local authorities can do to curb federal law enforcement abuses: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
NEW: Internal report reveals DHS intelligence portal was accidentally opened to tens of thousands of users for months, exposing sensitive intel about Americans. @brennancenter.org obtained the docs. @wired.com has the story. 🧵
www.wired.com/story/a-dhs-...
www.wired.com/story/a-dhs-...
www.wired.com
September 16, 2025 at 8:27 PM
NEW: Internal report reveals DHS intelligence portal was accidentally opened to tens of thousands of users for months, exposing sensitive intel about Americans. @brennancenter.org obtained the docs. @wired.com has the story. 🧵
www.wired.com/story/a-dhs-...
www.wired.com/story/a-dhs-...
🧵 NEW from 404 Media: ARC, a data broker owned by major US airlines, including American Airlines, United, and Delta, is selling access to 5 billion ticketing records to the government (incl. ICE and FBI), which can be used for warrantless searching and monitoring of peoples’ movements. 1/
New from 404 Media: airlines are selling *5 billion* ticketing records to the government for warrantless searching, per new docs we obtained. ARC is a data broker owned by United, American, Delta, etc. Then sells peoples' travel info to ICE, Secret Service, FBI etc www.404media.co/airlines-sel...
Airlines Sell 5 Billion Plane Ticket Records to the Government For Warrantless Searching
New documents obtained by 404 Media show how a data broker owned by American Airlines, United, Delta, and many other airlines is selling masses of passenger data to the U.S. government.
www.404media.co
September 16, 2025 at 12:08 PM
🧵 NEW from 404 Media: ARC, a data broker owned by major US airlines, including American Airlines, United, and Delta, is selling access to 5 billion ticketing records to the government (incl. ICE and FBI), which can be used for warrantless searching and monitoring of peoples’ movements. 1/
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
THREAD: This morning, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Trump's use of National Guardsmen and Marines to support federal law enforcement in and around Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act. (1/22) www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-t...
Judge rules Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles violated federal law
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled in favor of California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his challenge to President Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles.
www.cbsnews.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:03 PM
THREAD: This morning, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Trump's use of National Guardsmen and Marines to support federal law enforcement in and around Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act. (1/22) www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-t...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
The @brennancenter.org obtained a letter the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social and @advocate.nyc.gov
sent to the Mayor on Tuesday asking an important question: What’s going on with the NYPD Inspector General’s office?
sent to the Mayor on Tuesday asking an important question: What’s going on with the NYPD Inspector General’s office?
www.brennancenter.org
August 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The @brennancenter.org obtained a letter the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social and @advocate.nyc.gov
sent to the Mayor on Tuesday asking an important question: What’s going on with the NYPD Inspector General’s office?
sent to the Mayor on Tuesday asking an important question: What’s going on with the NYPD Inspector General’s office?
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
One Week of Trump’s Attempted DC Takeover
@sreynolds.bsky.social and I look at how the admin has abused legal authorities to deploy the National Guard, surge federal law enforcement, and attempt to commandeer the local police in the nation's capital. www.justsecurity.org/119227/trump...
@sreynolds.bsky.social and I look at how the admin has abused legal authorities to deploy the National Guard, surge federal law enforcement, and attempt to commandeer the local police in the nation's capital. www.justsecurity.org/119227/trump...
One Week of Trump’s DC Takeover Attempt: An analysis of the president’s use of military, police, and security services in the nation’s capital
Detailed legal analysis of federalization of DC police and the deployment of Guard, DHS and other forces.
www.justsecurity.org
August 19, 2025 at 2:36 PM
One Week of Trump’s Attempted DC Takeover
@sreynolds.bsky.social and I look at how the admin has abused legal authorities to deploy the National Guard, surge federal law enforcement, and attempt to commandeer the local police in the nation's capital. www.justsecurity.org/119227/trump...
@sreynolds.bsky.social and I look at how the admin has abused legal authorities to deploy the National Guard, surge federal law enforcement, and attempt to commandeer the local police in the nation's capital. www.justsecurity.org/119227/trump...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
At Trump’s request, multiple red state governors are sending hundreds of armed National Guard forces into DC. This military occupation of the district is unprecedented and unjustified. If it’s allowed to stand, this country will be well on its way to becoming a police state. 1/22
August 19, 2025 at 12:35 AM
At Trump’s request, multiple red state governors are sending hundreds of armed National Guard forces into DC. This military occupation of the district is unprecedented and unjustified. If it’s allowed to stand, this country will be well on its way to becoming a police state. 1/22
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
THREAD: This morning, President Trump and members of his cabinet announced a set of sweeping, unprecedented, and unwarranted actions to impose federal control over local policing in Washington, D.C.
August 11, 2025 at 10:33 PM
THREAD: This morning, President Trump and members of his cabinet announced a set of sweeping, unprecedented, and unwarranted actions to impose federal control over local policing in Washington, D.C.
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
Amid chaos this summer from the national guard and Marines, Homeland Security used a little-known police agency to lead its protest response in Los Angeles.
TIME has my analysis of images & video—and solutions to prevent future DHS abuse. 🧵
time.com/7307963/trum...
TIME has my analysis of images & video—and solutions to prevent future DHS abuse. 🧵
time.com/7307963/trum...
Trump’s Troubling Deployment of DHS Officers
An investigation from the Brennan Center highlights the impact of a little-known federal force which was deployed in LA.
time.com
August 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Amid chaos this summer from the national guard and Marines, Homeland Security used a little-known police agency to lead its protest response in Los Angeles.
TIME has my analysis of images & video—and solutions to prevent future DHS abuse. 🧵
time.com/7307963/trum...
TIME has my analysis of images & video—and solutions to prevent future DHS abuse. 🧵
time.com/7307963/trum...
Reposted by Emile Ayoub
A more comprehensive analysis for @brennancenter.org of how the Trump administration's latest AI policy could leave us more divided and less informed: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
August 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
A more comprehensive analysis for @brennancenter.org of how the Trump administration's latest AI policy could leave us more divided and less informed: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...