Mikael Thalen
@mikaelthalen.bsky.social
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
🚨 NEW/EXCLUSIVE: The FBI turned over dozens of emails to me in response to my #FOIA request that provides a behind-the-scenes look at discussions involving the review and redaction of the Epstein files
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
🚨 NEW/EXCLUSIVE: The FBI turned over dozens of emails to me in response to my #FOIA request that provides a behind-the-scenes look at discussions involving the review and redaction of the Epstein files
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
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 Mikael Thalen
AP finds a secretive Border Patrol intelligence program detains Americans for “suspicious” travel. Critics call it mass surveillance.
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
AP finds a secretive Border Patrol intelligence program detains Americans for “suspicious” travel. Critics call it mass surveillance.
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: IRS accessed a massive database of Americans flights without a warrant. Shows where and when someone flew, the credit card used. Hundreds of millions records; the airlines sell this data to the government through a broker they own
www.404media.co/irs-accessed...
www.404media.co/irs-accessed...
IRS Accessed Massive Database of Americans Flights Without a Warrant
A bipartisan letter reveals the IRS searched a database of hundreds of millions of travel records without first conducting a legal review. Airlines like Delta, United, American, and Southwest are sell...
www.404media.co
November 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
New from 404 Media: IRS accessed a massive database of Americans flights without a warrant. Shows where and when someone flew, the credit card used. Hundreds of millions records; the airlines sell this data to the government through a broker they own
www.404media.co/irs-accessed...
www.404media.co/irs-accessed...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
license plate data merged with credit header data, marriage records, vehicle ownership, and voter registrations, in one app for ICE agents. oh and it sends push notifications when someone they're seeking is nearby.
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
This App Lets ICE Track Vehicles and Owners Across the Country
Material viewed by 404 Media shows data giant Thomson Reuters enriches license plate data with marriage, voter, and ownership records. The tool can predict where a car may be in the future.
www.404media.co
November 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
license plate data merged with credit header data, marriage records, vehicle ownership, and voter registrations, in one app for ICE agents. oh and it sends push notifications when someone they're seeking is nearby.
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
🆒: www.404media.co/this-app-let...
NEW: Nearly 10,000 employees & contractors at The Washington Post, including ex-national security adviser John Bolton, had their personal data exposed after the paper was breached by hackers.
san.com/cc/john-bolt...
san.com/cc/john-bolt...
John Bolton among Washington Post contributors exposed in hack
Ex-national security advisor John Bolton is one of nearly 10,000 contributors who had data exposed after a hack of The Washington Post.
san.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:06 PM
NEW: Nearly 10,000 employees & contractors at The Washington Post, including ex-national security adviser John Bolton, had their personal data exposed after the paper was breached by hackers.
san.com/cc/john-bolt...
san.com/cc/john-bolt...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: Five people who live in the U.S. pleaded guily for "facilitating" and helping the North Korean regime place fake remote IT workers inside American companies.
U.S. Department of Justice said their actions affected 136 U.S. companies and netted Kim Jong Un’s regime $2.2 million in revenue.
U.S. Department of Justice said their actions affected 136 U.S. companies and netted Kim Jong Un’s regime $2.2 million in revenue.
Five people plead guilty to helping North Koreans infiltrate US companies as 'remote IT workers' | TechCrunch
The U.S. Department of Justice said five people — including four U.S. nationals — "facilitated" North Korean IT workers to get jobs at American companies, allowing the regime to earn money from their ...
techcrunch.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
NEW: Five people who live in the U.S. pleaded guily for "facilitating" and helping the North Korean regime place fake remote IT workers inside American companies.
U.S. Department of Justice said their actions affected 136 U.S. companies and netted Kim Jong Un’s regime $2.2 million in revenue.
U.S. Department of Justice said their actions affected 136 U.S. companies and netted Kim Jong Un’s regime $2.2 million in revenue.
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
Epstein files (121 GB)
A collection of documents, emails, and recordings relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including his FBI and Interpol files, court documents, releases from the DOJ and Congress, and leaked emails.
ddosecrets.com/article/epst...
Help us keep publishing: donorbox.org/supporting-d...
A collection of documents, emails, and recordings relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including his FBI and Interpol files, court documents, releases from the DOJ and Congress, and leaked emails.
ddosecrets.com/article/epst...
Help us keep publishing: donorbox.org/supporting-d...
Epstein files - Distributed Denial of Secrets
A collection of documents, emails, and recordings relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including his FBI and Interpol files, court documents, releases from the Department of Justice and Congress, and leaked…
ddosecrets.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Epstein files (121 GB)
A collection of documents, emails, and recordings relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including his FBI and Interpol files, court documents, releases from the DOJ and Congress, and leaked emails.
ddosecrets.com/article/epst...
Help us keep publishing: donorbox.org/supporting-d...
A collection of documents, emails, and recordings relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including his FBI and Interpol files, court documents, releases from the DOJ and Congress, and leaked emails.
ddosecrets.com/article/epst...
Help us keep publishing: donorbox.org/supporting-d...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: DHS ingested a trove of highly unreliable Chicago police records on people accused of having gang ties to feed an FBI watchlist and then just ... didn't delete it for seven months after being told to do so because no one noticed. Scoop from @dell.bsky.social, and is outside our paywall.
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 10:08 PM
NEW: DHS ingested a trove of highly unreliable Chicago police records on people accused of having gang ties to feed an FBI watchlist and then just ... didn't delete it for seven months after being told to do so because no one noticed. Scoop from @dell.bsky.social, and is outside our paywall.
@mustafasuleymanai.bsky.social Hey Mustafa, Mikael Thalen here, tech reporter for Straight Arrow News. Was interested in sending a few questions your way about MAI. Can you shoot me a DM or email (info in bio)? Thanks!
November 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
@mustafasuleymanai.bsky.social Hey Mustafa, Mikael Thalen here, tech reporter for Straight Arrow News. Was interested in sending a few questions your way about MAI. Can you shoot me a DM or email (info in bio)? Thanks!
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
In 2023, students at Ohio State blocked the doors to the president's office.
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Scoop: Inside DHS's vast college football surveillance effort
If you go to a college football game, the feds have cameras on you.
www.foiaball.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
In 2023, students at Ohio State blocked the doors to the president's office.
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New, by me at this.weekinsecurity.com: I wrote ~3,700 of my finest words on North Korea's remote IT workers, who have infiltrated businesses across the U.S. and Europe and aren't slowing down. Probably the most pervasive cyber threats today.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Thousands of North Koreans have secretly infiltrated US and European companies as remote IT workers
North Korea's secret remote workers are a major threat facing U.S. and European businesses today, taking jobs in Fortune 100 and smaller companies alike. Here's how to recognize and combat the threat.
this.weekinsecurity.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
New, by me at this.weekinsecurity.com: I wrote ~3,700 of my finest words on North Korea's remote IT workers, who have infiltrated businesses across the U.S. and Europe and aren't slowing down. Probably the most pervasive cyber threats today.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: CBP has quietly launched a facial recognition app for local cops to do immigration enforcement. Scans their face, tells cops whether to contact ICE about this person or not. A truly rapid expansion of ICE's facial recognition app to local cops
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
CBP Quietly Launches Face Scanning App for Local Cops To Do Immigration Enforcement
The app, called Mobile Identify and available on the Google Play Store, is specifically for local and regional law enforcement agencies working with ICE on immigration enforcement.
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
New from 404 Media: CBP has quietly launched a facial recognition app for local cops to do immigration enforcement. Scans their face, tells cops whether to contact ICE about this person or not. A truly rapid expansion of ICE's facial recognition app to local cops
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
NEW: Surveillance footage from inside an Israeli defense contractor has been leaked online by an Iranian-linked hacktivist group.
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
Iran-linked hackers leak CCTV footage from inside Israeli defense contractor
Surveillance footage from inside Israeli defense contractor Maya Engineering has been leaked online by an Iranian-linked hacktivist group.
san.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:17 PM
NEW: Surveillance footage from inside an Israeli defense contractor has been leaked online by an Iranian-linked hacktivist group.
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
The Texas Dept of Public Safety carried out aerial surveillance of Austin's No Kings protest after Gov. Abbott suggested that "violence & destruction" were likely.
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The Texas Dept of Public Safety carried out aerial surveillance of Austin's No Kings protest after Gov. Abbott suggested that "violence & destruction" were likely.
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: logins for Flock, the company behind the nationwide AI-camera network, are included in malware infections. Includes government and police accounts, meaning hackers could potentially break in. Senator Wyden asking FTC to investigate Flock
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
November 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
New from 404 Media: logins for Flock, the company behind the nationwide AI-camera network, are included in malware infections. Includes government and police accounts, meaning hackers could potentially break in. Senator Wyden asking FTC to investigate Flock
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: you can't refuse to be scanned by ICE's new facial recognition app, according to internal DHS document I obtained. Photos captured by the app are stored for 15 years, including U.S. citizens. We've seen officers scanning faces w/ phones on streets
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
You Can't Refuse To Be Scanned by ICE's Facial Recognition App, DHS Document Says
Photos captured by Mobile Fortify will be stored for 15 years, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, the document says.
www.404media.co
October 31, 2025 at 1:49 PM
New from 404 Media: you can't refuse to be scanned by ICE's new facial recognition app, according to internal DHS document I obtained. Photos captured by the app are stored for 15 years, including U.S. citizens. We've seen officers scanning faces w/ phones on streets
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
October 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: someone managed to get into a Microsoft Teams call with phone hackers Cellebrite, who then detailed some of the company's hacking capabilities against Google Pixel phones. Also its capabilities against GrapheneOS, security-focused devices www.404media.co/someone-snuc...
Someone Snuck Into a Cellebrite Microsoft Teams Call and Leaked Phone Unlocking Details
The leaked slide focuses on Google Pixel phones and mentions those running the security-focused GrapheneOS operating system.
www.404media.co
October 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
New from 404 Media: someone managed to get into a Microsoft Teams call with phone hackers Cellebrite, who then detailed some of the company's hacking capabilities against Google Pixel phones. Also its capabilities against GrapheneOS, security-focused devices www.404media.co/someone-snuc...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
Full story: The self-described "founder" of Anonymous and part-time federal cooperator Kirtaner announced he would be returning to prison after violating the terms of his bail with $ANON.
October 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Full story: The self-described "founder" of Anonymous and part-time federal cooperator Kirtaner announced he would be returning to prison after violating the terms of his bail with $ANON.
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: CBP searched a record 55,424 devices at the US border over the past 12 months. While these searches are rare compared to the number of travelers, the data shows a notable uptick over the past six months. @mattburgess1.bsky.social and @dell.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/cbp-se...
CBP Searched a Record Number of Phones at the US Border Over the Past Year
The total number of US Customs and Border Protection device searches jumped by 17 percent over the 2024 fiscal year, but more invasive forensic searches remain relatively rare.
www.wired.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
NEW: CBP searched a record 55,424 devices at the US border over the past 12 months. While these searches are rare compared to the number of travelers, the data shows a notable uptick over the past six months. @mattburgess1.bsky.social and @dell.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/cbp-se...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: DHS is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
by me @ wired:
by me @ wired:
DHS Wants a Fleet of AI-Powered Surveillance Trucks
US border patrol is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
www.wired.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
NEW: DHS is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
by me @ wired:
by me @ wired:
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: DHS is trying to unmask an anonymous Instagram/Facebook account that tracks ICE activity by claiming the accounts are importing merchandise. Zero evidence for that, lawyers say demand is wildly out of scope. It's a tactic to unmask critics
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
DHS Tries To Unmask Ice Spotting Instagram Account by Claiming It Imports Merchandise
There is no evidence the Instagram and Facebook account, called Montcowatch, sells anything. Lawyers from the ACLU say the move is "wild outside the scope" of DHS' authority.
www.404media.co
October 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
New from 404 Media: DHS is trying to unmask an anonymous Instagram/Facebook account that tracks ICE activity by claiming the accounts are importing merchandise. Zero evidence for that, lawyers say demand is wildly out of scope. It's a tactic to unmask critics
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: there's been some chatter in recent days about an ICE purchase of "guided missile warheads and explosive components" in September.
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...
No, ICE (Probably) Didn't Buy Guided Missile Warheads
A federal contracting database lists an ICE payment for $61,218 with the payment code “guided missile warheads and explosive components.” But it appears ICE simply entered the wrong code.
www.wired.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:39 PM
NEW: there's been some chatter in recent days about an ICE purchase of "guided missile warheads and explosive components" in September.
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...