How buying a T-shirt led to government monitoring

Five hours after Charlie Kirk was shot this week, an Atlanta man got a phone call from an Illinois police officer asking about a photo he shared with a couple of close friends on a private Discord chat. The Atlanta man, who asked not to be identified, says the post was merely a confirmation that he had purchased the same T-shirt that the accused killer wore (from an Illinois-based online shop).

Social media companies are generally forbidden by law from divulging users’ private communications to the government without a traditional legal process (e.g., court order). But there’s an exception: in perceived emergencies, social media platforms can proactively and “voluntarily” hand over private messages in response to what’s called an “emergency disclosure request” (EDR).

Discord, I am told, did not respond to any EDR here; but when I asked them directly if they’d provided law enforcement with information to traditional legal process, they declined to respond on-record.

The FBI, or the intelligence community, evidently is monitoring Discord private messaging, even from people who have broken no law.

Full blown Orwellian world. Run for local government and stop this shit.

The largest populated areas are left leaning. If they ae controlled by democratic socialist, we can restrict this shit. Just by pure numbers.

  • grrgyle@slrpnk.net
    8·
    2 days ago

    Yes, I wonder what journalists (“professional” and otherwise) are supposed to do. Everyone going their own way and splintering off into many little voices doesn’t feel like the right answer, but publishers are beholden to investors and can be bought out by billionaires. I suppose there are publishers/agencies that have maintained their integrity like 404 Media, or Al Jazeera.

    Maybe this is just the burden of anyone in a democracy: to constantly weigh the quality of the sources of information you’re using to form opinions which spawn action.

    • SabinStargem@lemmy.todayEnglish
      2·
      2 hours ago

      Getting funding from South Korea might be an option. They probably want the Trump Regime to go away, so that they can carry on business without a toddler doing stupid shit.

      If a civil war happens, I suspect the Blue States would get a great deal of foreign support. “Fuck that guy”, would be a big part of that. The other part being “I want a reliable business partner.” Kinda like how the Confederates were boned internationally when it came to trade. Plus, it would be an easy way to earn favors with whatever institution that displaces Trumpkins.