Matthew Kugler
@mbkugler.bsky.social
Law professor, Northwestern University. Doing privacy and intellectual property. Views are my own.
https://www.law.northwestern.edu/faculty/profiles/matthewkugler/
Free privacy casebook
https://www.privacycasebook.com/
https://www.law.northwestern.edu/faculty/profiles/matthewkugler/
Free privacy casebook
https://www.privacycasebook.com/
We need a statutory bivens cause of action. Let them sue and get this on the record.
They assaulted and injured a person, damaged a car, and then left. That’s not legal‼️
February 16, 2026 at 6:35 AM
We need a statutory bivens cause of action. Let them sue and get this on the record.
Zero women in my life have given me any indication this is true, and I know some really nerdy women.
Now if you tried “…they want craft supplies” I think you’d be onto something. :)
Now if you tried “…they want craft supplies” I think you’d be onto something. :)
WOMEN👏DON’T👏WANT👏CHOCOLATES 👏FOR 👏VALENTINE’S 👏DAY 👏THEY 👏WANT 👏MERRIAM-WEBSTER’S 👏COLLEGIATE 👏DICTIONARY 👏TWELFTH 👏EDITION 👏
February 14, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Zero women in my life have given me any indication this is true, and I know some really nerdy women.
Now if you tried “…they want craft supplies” I think you’d be onto something. :)
Now if you tried “…they want craft supplies” I think you’d be onto something. :)
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Every photo from Minneapolis looks like this. Cops decked out with guns and full tac gear facing off against people in bathrobes, parkas, and sweatpants armed only with whistles and cell phones.
Yet every verified MAGA chode on X dutifully calls it a riot or violent insurrection.
Yet every verified MAGA chode on X dutifully calls it a riot or violent insurrection.
February 11, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Every photo from Minneapolis looks like this. Cops decked out with guns and full tac gear facing off against people in bathrobes, parkas, and sweatpants armed only with whistles and cell phones.
Yet every verified MAGA chode on X dutifully calls it a riot or violent insurrection.
Yet every verified MAGA chode on X dutifully calls it a riot or violent insurrection.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
idk how widely this article has been shared, but it is extremely irresponsible and inaccurate in many different ways. it states as fact and with no reporting that things *are happening now* that *may eventually be possible*. it is shocking that this was published
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
How TikTok 2.0 Became a Weapon for ICE
In just one week, the company has gone from being Gen Z’s preferred social media platform to a tool for spying on Americans and the suppression of information.
newrepublic.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:25 PM
idk how widely this article has been shared, but it is extremely irresponsible and inaccurate in many different ways. it states as fact and with no reporting that things *are happening now* that *may eventually be possible*. it is shocking that this was published
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Ring tried making a heart-warming ad about finding lost pets that unleashed a social media deluge of "...did they just advertise how great they are at building a massive suburban surveillance network???" (The Ring blowback is warming my little privacy heart.)
February 9, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Ring tried making a heart-warming ad about finding lost pets that unleashed a social media deluge of "...did they just advertise how great they are at building a massive suburban surveillance network???" (The Ring blowback is warming my little privacy heart.)
I’ve been trying to use ChatGPT to identify my old Transformers. It has been comically bad at it. It has also repeatedly insisted that certain old LEGO pieces don’t exist.
Specialized models are obviously better, but I worry when a leading general model can’t tell Topspin from Slingshot.
Specialized models are obviously better, but I worry when a leading general model can’t tell Topspin from Slingshot.
“Researchers from Johns Hopkins, Georgetown and Yale universities recently found that 60 FDA-authorized medical devices using AI were linked to 182 product recalls, according to a research letter published in the JAMA Health Forum in August.”
As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts
Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...
www.reuters.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:03 PM
I’ve been trying to use ChatGPT to identify my old Transformers. It has been comically bad at it. It has also repeatedly insisted that certain old LEGO pieces don’t exist.
Specialized models are obviously better, but I worry when a leading general model can’t tell Topspin from Slingshot.
Specialized models are obviously better, but I worry when a leading general model can’t tell Topspin from Slingshot.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
i know everybody on bluesky is way too smart to believe
thing is, if you don't believe, tinkerbell dies
it's on all of us
thing is, if you don't believe, tinkerbell dies
it's on all of us
aspirational america is unmeasurably important
not just here, but for the world
not just here, but for the world
Bad Bunny sang for an aspirational America I'm happy and grateful to be part of.
February 9, 2026 at 4:01 AM
i know everybody on bluesky is way too smart to believe
thing is, if you don't believe, tinkerbell dies
it's on all of us
thing is, if you don't believe, tinkerbell dies
it's on all of us
The rhythms of the academic year are very strange. Law review submission season is upon us, and I spent the week getting two pieces out the door. Last night I was up until 11 doing edits for another journal. Now things are quiet and I'm not sure what to do with myself.
February 6, 2026 at 5:02 PM
The rhythms of the academic year are very strange. Law review submission season is upon us, and I spent the week getting two pieces out the door. Last night I was up until 11 doing edits for another journal. Now things are quiet and I'm not sure what to do with myself.
If I ever think that commenting on a student's appearance will help them land a job with a particular employer, my response will be to advise them (and everyone else) against applying to that employer.
The arrogance to, first, do it and, second, do it in writing, is insane.
The arrogance to, first, do it and, second, do it in writing, is insane.
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 11:01 PM
If I ever think that commenting on a student's appearance will help them land a job with a particular employer, my response will be to advise them (and everyone else) against applying to that employer.
The arrogance to, first, do it and, second, do it in writing, is insane.
The arrogance to, first, do it and, second, do it in writing, is insane.
That it works over there was always proof that all it would take over here was money and political will. Both have been too present of late.
We used to talk in Privacy about this happening in China (Uighurs), Egypt (Arab Spring), Myanmar (Genocide). When Dobbs passed, we started talking abt the impact on women. Now it's Minnesota & DHS and our own fedgov invading our privacy to violate our rights over an&d over.
bsky.app/profile/minn...
bsky.app/profile/minn...
Facial recognition cameras, AI-powered social media analyzers, license plate readers, fake cell towers, cell phone spyware—ICE has broadened its arsenal of surveillance tech, alarming privacy advocates, lawmakers, and ordinary community members. minnesotareformer.com/2026/02/03/h...
February 4, 2026 at 1:52 AM
That it works over there was always proof that all it would take over here was money and political will. Both have been too present of late.
Well worth a look!
February 4, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Well worth a look!
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
*sigh* here we go again. Your phone is not listening to everything around you 24/7 for advertising purposes. *If* you have voice activation on for the assistant, the mic is listening for the activation phrase: the processing power for listening for a single specific phrase is much lower.
Do you remember when people were saying "I think my phone is listening to me, i'm getting ads for stuff I spoke about" and people said "They arent listening to you, they're just this good at predicting your interests"?
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Well, it happens they were doing exactly that.
www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users
Class-action lawsuit alleged that Google's voice assistant illegally recorded and shared private conversations with advertisers.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:07 AM
*sigh* here we go again. Your phone is not listening to everything around you 24/7 for advertising purposes. *If* you have voice activation on for the assistant, the mic is listening for the activation phrase: the processing power for listening for a single specific phrase is much lower.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Gift Article - New: bipartisan group of DHS general counsels call out use of administrative warrants
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
Opinion | We Were Top Homeland Security Lawyers. You Can’t Wish Away the Fourth Amendment.
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Gift Article - New: bipartisan group of DHS general counsels call out use of administrative warrants
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/o...
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Trump's antisemitism envoy: "It is utterly inappropriate to compare Anne Frank to children hiding from ICE. This demeans the experience of those who died in the Holocaust."
Actual Holocaust survivors in Florida: "This reminds us of Anne Frank."
Actual Holocaust survivors in Florida: "This reminds us of Anne Frank."
February 1, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Trump's antisemitism envoy: "It is utterly inappropriate to compare Anne Frank to children hiding from ICE. This demeans the experience of those who died in the Holocaust."
Actual Holocaust survivors in Florida: "This reminds us of Anne Frank."
Actual Holocaust survivors in Florida: "This reminds us of Anne Frank."
Congrats to @zclopton.bsky.social! Hopefully this will mark the beginning of a long and stable period at the law school.
We are pleased to share that Zachary D. Clopton has been appointed Dean of Northwestern Pritzker Law. Please join us in congratulating him!
news.law.northwestern.edu/news/zachary...
news.law.northwestern.edu/news/zachary...
Zachary Clopton named dean of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Daniel Hale Williams Professor of Law Zachary D. Clopton has been appointed dean of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, effective Feb. 1. Clopton succeeds Hari Osofsky as the permanent dean after six...
news.law.northwestern.edu
January 29, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Congrats to @zclopton.bsky.social! Hopefully this will mark the beginning of a long and stable period at the law school.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
I’m not sure I have anything add to this. I’ve spent the better part of a year debunking most of the arguments here. The only new-ish thing is an argument about safe conduct that is flatly contradicted by the very sources which he cites and it is impossible to believe that he doesn’t know it.
Ilan Wurman's anti-birthright citizenship Supreme Court amicus. I won't mince words. He bastardizes the common law. It is a methodologically bankrupt approach to the history of Anglo-American constitutionalism. It is little more than preening to gain someone's favor, but certainly not a scholar's.
January 28, 2026 at 7:35 PM
I’m not sure I have anything add to this. I’ve spent the better part of a year debunking most of the arguments here. The only new-ish thing is an argument about safe conduct that is flatly contradicted by the very sources which he cites and it is impossible to believe that he doesn’t know it.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Ilan Wurman's anti-birthright citizenship Supreme Court amicus. I won't mince words. He bastardizes the common law. It is a methodologically bankrupt approach to the history of Anglo-American constitutionalism. It is little more than preening to gain someone's favor, but certainly not a scholar's.
January 28, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Ilan Wurman's anti-birthright citizenship Supreme Court amicus. I won't mince words. He bastardizes the common law. It is a methodologically bankrupt approach to the history of Anglo-American constitutionalism. It is little more than preening to gain someone's favor, but certainly not a scholar's.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Excited that our paper with @thelior.bsky.social @mbkugler.bsky.social , “Can Consumers Protect Themselves Against Privacy Dark Patterns?” is a winner of the (@futureofprivacy’s or @futureofprivacy.bsky.social’s) 16th Annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award! Read more: fpf.org/press-releas...
Virtual 16th Annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers: Privacy
FPF is excited to present the winners of the 16th Annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers in a two-part, virtual only webinar series.
www.eventbrite.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Excited that our paper with @thelior.bsky.social @mbkugler.bsky.social , “Can Consumers Protect Themselves Against Privacy Dark Patterns?” is a winner of the (@futureofprivacy’s or @futureofprivacy.bsky.social’s) 16th Annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award! Read more: fpf.org/press-releas...
Excellent commentary on why conduct that might give rise to liability in the private context definitely does not in the government context (however troubling that might be).
Nekima Levy Armstrong will not succeed on a defamation claim against the verminous shitposter subnormals of the Trump Administration who used AI to fabricate pictures of her crying during her perp walk. Here’s why.
/1
/1
@kenwhite.bsky.social does she have a case for defamation here?
January 23, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Excellent commentary on why conduct that might give rise to liability in the private context definitely does not in the government context (however troubling that might be).
Excellent as always. Now, if the government would please chill, Orin is supposed to be writing about curtilage this week. :P
"Can ICE Enter a Home To Make an Arrest With Only an Administrative Warrant?" a deep dive for the law nerds new from me, posted over at Volokh.
reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com/volokh/2026/...
Can ICE Enter a Home To Make an Arrest With Only an Administrative Warrant?
The Associated Press reports: Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says WASHINGTON (AP)…
reason.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Excellent as always. Now, if the government would please chill, Orin is supposed to be writing about curtilage this week. :P
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
The Administration has threatened investigation and charges under the FACE Act for protestors - and Don Lemon — for a protest at a St. Paul church where one of the pastors is an ICE official.
There are stupid responses to this, which get on my last fucking nerve, and arguable responses to this.
There are stupid responses to this, which get on my last fucking nerve, and arguable responses to this.
January 21, 2026 at 7:07 PM
The Administration has threatened investigation and charges under the FACE Act for protestors - and Don Lemon — for a protest at a St. Paul church where one of the pastors is an ICE official.
There are stupid responses to this, which get on my last fucking nerve, and arguable responses to this.
There are stupid responses to this, which get on my last fucking nerve, and arguable responses to this.
Reposted by Matthew Kugler
Semi-relatedly, Ilan teaches in Minnesota. Here, he makes claims about what’s happening in Minneapolis, and suggests the President could legitimately invoke the Insurrection Act. If he has set foot in Minneapolis recently or written anything substantial about the Insurrection Act, I’m unaware.
I want to address my friend Ilan who says here that he has been subject to “a lot of hate” from academics who “should know better” and haven’t respected the “academic enterprise.”
I don’t dislike Ilan. I also think his paper is fundamentally wrong and not scholarly.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pFge...
I don’t dislike Ilan. I also think his paper is fundamentally wrong and not scholarly.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pFge...
The Sanity Interview: Ilan Wurman
YouTube video by The New York Sun
m.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Semi-relatedly, Ilan teaches in Minnesota. Here, he makes claims about what’s happening in Minneapolis, and suggests the President could legitimately invoke the Insurrection Act. If he has set foot in Minneapolis recently or written anything substantial about the Insurrection Act, I’m unaware.
If only Denmark had allied with a superpower to guarantee its territorial security. Wait, I’m being told that they did.
I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning to do good. How does he get out of bed to be this dumb?
I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning to do good. How does he get out of bed to be this dumb?
This guy is basically inviting China to take Taiwan.
January 17, 2026 at 2:45 AM
If only Denmark had allied with a superpower to guarantee its territorial security. Wait, I’m being told that they did.
I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning to do good. How does he get out of bed to be this dumb?
I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning to do good. How does he get out of bed to be this dumb?
Also keep in mind that provocateurs are a thing. That person publicly calling for violence? They're either crazy or a federal agent. It is not helpful to listen to them regardless. I found @laurajedeed.bsky.social's piece on this quite useful:
www.firewalledmedia.com/p/cointelpro...
www.firewalledmedia.com/p/cointelpro...
January 15, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Also keep in mind that provocateurs are a thing. That person publicly calling for violence? They're either crazy or a federal agent. It is not helpful to listen to them regardless. I found @laurajedeed.bsky.social's piece on this quite useful:
www.firewalledmedia.com/p/cointelpro...
www.firewalledmedia.com/p/cointelpro...