Thomas Brewster
@thomasbrewster.bsky.social
Forbes senior writer, covering privacy, surveillance and cybercrime. Editor of The Wiretap newsletter, featuring all of the above.
Pinned
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
🚨NEW🚨 The FBI used facial recognition to identify then charge ICE protestors causing damage to gov property in Minneapolis.
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein could've made $$$ off his investment in a police tech startup then valued at $4.5m.
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Epstein Could Have Made $100 Million On A Secret Police Tech Investment
Former Israel prime minister Ehud Barak helped the convicted sex trafficker quietly invest $1 million in a police tech startup in 2015. Its founder said the company, which is set to be acquired by Axo...
www.forbes.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:35 PM
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein could've made $$$ off his investment in a police tech startup then valued at $4.5m.
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein paid tens of thousands to a search engine expert to promote his philanthropy and bury negative news on Google Search about his sex trafficking.
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
How Jeffrey Epstein Manipulated Google Search To Bury His Past
Using a mix of search engine experts and “hackers,” Epstein sought to promote his philanthropy so he could bury negative news about his sex trafficking.
www.forbes.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein paid tens of thousands to a search engine expert to promote his philanthropy and bury negative news on Google Search about his sex trafficking.
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
Maybe this is also why he went to DEF CON to scout for hacking talent
February 10, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Maybe this is also why he went to DEF CON to scout for hacking talent
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein paid tens of thousands to a search engine expert to promote his philanthropy and bury negative news on Google Search about his sex trafficking.
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
How Jeffrey Epstein Manipulated Google Search To Bury His Past
Using a mix of search engine experts and “hackers,” Epstein sought to promote his philanthropy so he could bury negative news about his sex trafficking.
www.forbes.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein paid tens of thousands to a search engine expert to promote his philanthropy and bury negative news on Google Search about his sex trafficking.
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
That included getting a positive story in Forbes.
First insight into how that all happened here.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
Barak also promoted an Amazon Alexa-hacking startup called Toka to Epstein and asked him to pass it on to his government contacts...
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein could've made $$$ off his investment in a police tech startup then valued at $4.5m.
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Epstein Could Have Made $100 Million On A Secret Police Tech Investment
Former Israel prime minister Ehud Barak helped the convicted sex trafficker quietly invest $1 million in a police tech startup in 2015. Its founder said the company, which is set to be acquired by Axo...
www.forbes.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Barak also promoted an Amazon Alexa-hacking startup called Toka to Epstein and asked him to pass it on to his government contacts...
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein could've made $$$ off his investment in a police tech startup then valued at $4.5m.
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Epstein Could Have Made $100 Million On A Secret Police Tech Investment
Former Israel prime minister Ehud Barak helped the convicted sex trafficker quietly invest $1 million in a police tech startup in 2015. Its founder said the company, which is set to be acquired by Axo...
www.forbes.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:35 PM
🚨NEW🚨 Epstein could've made $$$ off his investment in a police tech startup then valued at $4.5m.
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The startup says it never knew of his involvement, concealed by Ehud Barak, former Israel PM.
The company is about to sell for Axon for $625 million.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Good job lads
“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 4:03 PM
Good job lads
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
Here's who the Washington Post just laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Here's who the Washington Post just laid off.
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
Great story by @iainmartin.bsky.social on VC Masha Bucher and her deep, years-long relationship w/ Jeffrey Epstein @forbes.com
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
How Jeffrey Epstein Helped His Publicist Become A Big-Time Venture Capitalist
Masha Bucher is one of the more high profile female VCs in Silicon Valley. New emails released from the Department of Justice reveal a deep, years long relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffr...
www.forbes.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Great story by @iainmartin.bsky.social on VC Masha Bucher and her deep, years-long relationship w/ Jeffrey Epstein @forbes.com
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
Laying off @joemenn.bsky.social is the newsroom management equivalent of stapling your dick to the wall. Truly insane move, and one of many.
Most of the Washington Post’s tech reporters were laid off today, including me. I have loved my time at the paper, which is where I wanted to work from age 15. I take some consolation in not being among the survivors who will have to work harder with less for fewer readers. On to better things.
February 4, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Laying off @joemenn.bsky.social is the newsroom management equivalent of stapling your dick to the wall. Truly insane move, and one of many.
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
The FBI is using facial recognition to identify ICE protestors from YouTube and social media — a chilling escalation of surveillance against the constitutional right to protest.
@thomasbrewster.bsky.social reports on what’s at stake for protest and privacy rights:
@thomasbrewster.bsky.social reports on what’s at stake for protest and privacy rights:
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:17 PM
The FBI is using facial recognition to identify ICE protestors from YouTube and social media — a chilling escalation of surveillance against the constitutional right to protest.
@thomasbrewster.bsky.social reports on what’s at stake for protest and privacy rights:
@thomasbrewster.bsky.social reports on what’s at stake for protest and privacy rights:
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
When a PR fixer turned VC introduced a startup founder to Jeffrey Epstein... what a lede from @iainmartin.bsky.social 🫠
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
February 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
When a PR fixer turned VC introduced a startup founder to Jeffrey Epstein... what a lede from @iainmartin.bsky.social 🫠
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
www.forbes.com/sites/iainma...
Keep in mind the FBI is relying heavily on footage from tipsters at ICE protests, some of whom are likely against the anti-ICE movement.
In one case, a citizen helped out—an FBI tipster used their own facial recognition to identify someone allegedly stealing a weapon from an FBI car during the Minneapolis protests.
They then gave the FBI the identity and social media profiles of the person.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
They then gave the FBI the identity and social media profiles of the person.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Keep in mind the FBI is relying heavily on footage from tipsters at ICE protests, some of whom are likely against the anti-ICE movement.
There's a lot of Steven Bannon in the Epstein files, but I laughed out loud when Epstein asked a contact if he thought it possible Bannon could do a talk at DEF CON.
@thedarktangent.defcon.social.ap.brid.gy - thoughts?!
@thedarktangent.defcon.social.ap.brid.gy - thoughts?!
February 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM
There's a lot of Steven Bannon in the Epstein files, but I laughed out loud when Epstein asked a contact if he thought it possible Bannon could do a talk at DEF CON.
@thedarktangent.defcon.social.ap.brid.gy - thoughts?!
@thedarktangent.defcon.social.ap.brid.gy - thoughts?!
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
The FBI Is Using Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:13 PM
The FBI Is Using Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
Worth a repost given all the protests happening today…
🚨NEW🚨 The FBI used facial recognition to identify then charge ICE protestors causing damage to gov property in Minneapolis.
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Worth a repost given all the protests happening today…
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
In one case, a citizen helped out—an FBI tipster used their own facial recognition to identify someone allegedly stealing a weapon from an FBI car during the Minneapolis protests.
They then gave the FBI the identity and social media profiles of the person.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
They then gave the FBI the identity and social media profiles of the person.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:04 PM
In one case, a citizen helped out—an FBI tipster used their own facial recognition to identify someone allegedly stealing a weapon from an FBI car during the Minneapolis protests.
They then gave the FBI the identity and social media profiles of the person.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
They then gave the FBI the identity and social media profiles of the person.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
🚨NEW🚨 The FBI used facial recognition to identify then charge ICE protestors causing damage to gov property in Minneapolis.
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:03 PM
🚨NEW🚨 The FBI used facial recognition to identify then charge ICE protestors causing damage to gov property in Minneapolis.
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
🚨NEW🚨 The FBI used facial recognition to identify then charge ICE protestors causing damage to gov property in Minneapolis.
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
FBI Uses Facial Recognition To Identify ICE Protestors In Social Media Videos
The FBI has charged multiple people with crimes like vandalism after determining their identities using the controversial technology, according to court records.
www.forbes.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:03 PM
🚨NEW🚨 The FBI used facial recognition to identify then charge ICE protestors causing damage to gov property in Minneapolis.
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Agents have been looking through YouTube footage, as well as video sent in by tipsters at the protests, before deploying the surveillance tech.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
New: "House Health Panel Member Kevin Hern Sold UnitedHealth Amid Stock-Trading Ban Push"
me, for @forbes.com
me, for @forbes.com
Rep. Kevin Hern Sold UnitedHealth Stock While Sitting On House Health Subcommittee
Disclosures show the Oklahoma Republican sold up to $500,000 in UnitedHealth stock while serving on a committee that oversees payments for health care.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:40 PM
New: "House Health Panel Member Kevin Hern Sold UnitedHealth Amid Stock-Trading Ban Push"
me, for @forbes.com
me, for @forbes.com
🚨 UPDATED 🚨 - to include confirmation that Safariland pepper spray is being used on protestors in Minneapolis, via a court document.
🚨 NEW 🚨 The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:18 PM
🚨 UPDATED 🚨 - to include confirmation that Safariland pepper spray is being used on protestors in Minneapolis, via a court document.
Reposted by Thomas Brewster
"Safariland pepper spray is being used in Minneapolis; Forbes reviewed a court filing in Minnesota from earlier this month, in which a federal agent used 'MK-9' pepper spray on a protestor. That brand of chemical weapon is sold by Safariland’s Defense Technology."
🚨 NEW 🚨 The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:45 AM
"Safariland pepper spray is being used in Minneapolis; Forbes reviewed a court filing in Minnesota from earlier this month, in which a federal agent used 'MK-9' pepper spray on a protestor. That brand of chemical weapon is sold by Safariland’s Defense Technology."
"Safariland pepper spray is being used in Minneapolis; Forbes reviewed a court filing in Minnesota from earlier this month, in which a federal agent used 'MK-9' pepper spray on a protestor. That brand of chemical weapon is sold by Safariland’s Defense Technology."
🚨 NEW 🚨 The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:45 AM
"Safariland pepper spray is being used in Minneapolis; Forbes reviewed a court filing in Minnesota from earlier this month, in which a federal agent used 'MK-9' pepper spray on a protestor. That brand of chemical weapon is sold by Safariland’s Defense Technology."
🚨 NEW 🚨 ICE And CBP have spent a record $140 Million on Amazon and Microsoft tech during Trump's second term.
Many of their staff aren't happy about it.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
Many of their staff aren't happy about it.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
ICE And CBP Have Spent $140 Million On Amazon And Microsoft Clouds Under Trump
The world’s biggest technology companies are among those profiting from the Trump administration’s aggressive funding of immigration agencies like ICE.
the power off.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:11 PM
🚨 NEW 🚨 ICE And CBP have spent a record $140 Million on Amazon and Microsoft tech during Trump's second term.
Many of their staff aren't happy about it.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
Many of their staff aren't happy about it.
www.forbes.com/sites/the-wi...
🚨 NEW 🚨 The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:08 PM
🚨 NEW 🚨 The Men Making Millions Selling Pepper Spray To ICE
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
Safariland, owned by billionaire Warren Kanders, remains the number one supplier of pepper spray and tear gas to ICE and CBP, via a large federal distributor run by a MAGA-aligned former Marine.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...