Alan Butler
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alanindc.bsky.social
Alan Butler
@alanindc.bsky.social
270 followers 640 following 9 posts
Privacy dad. DC denizen. Director at epic.org and attorney working on all things privacy, cybersecurity, and digital human rights.
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Reposted by Alan Butler
davekarpf.bsky.social
My biggest concern about TikTok being sold to Trump-aligned American investors is that, at this point, there is far more cause for alarm from domestic surveillance than from foreign adversaries.

www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
The MAGA Media Takeover
Trump and his powerful friends are creating a dangerous moment for free speech.
www.theatlantic.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
epic.org
Listen to EPIC Executive Director Alan Butler's (@alanindc.bsky.social's) full testimony: www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...

#DataPrivacy #DataProtection #Congress
TIME CHANGE: Protecting the Virtual You: Safeguarding Americans' Online Data | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
www.judiciary.senate.gov
July 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
epic.org
This afternoon, EPIC Executive Director Alan Butler (@alanindc.bsky.social) will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the importance of strong federal data regulations to protect the privacy of American consumers.

➡️ Tune in at 2:30 pm ET: www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-ac...
TIME CHANGE: Protecting the Virtual You: Safeguarding Americans' Online Data | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
www.judiciary.senate.gov
July 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
wyden.senate.gov
The Senate just passed my bill by UC to release this report to the public, to end this cover-up by CISA. Now the House needs to pass my bill so the public can see how shockingly insecure our phone system is. Then the government must hold phone companies accountable for failing cybersecurity 101.
epic.org EPIC @epic.org · Jul 8
➡️ EPIC filed a FOIA request against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release a CISA report on telecommunications security risks affecting the general public: epic.org/documents/ep...
EPIC v. CISA (SS7 Cybersecurity Report)
epic.org
July 29, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Reposted by Alan Butler
elizabethjoh.bsky.social
lifetime suspects without any basis of suspicion
wired.com WIRED @wired.com · Jul 16
NEW: The US government has added the DNA of approximately 133,000 migrant children and teens to a criminal database, which critics say could mean police treat them like suspects “indefinitely.”
DHS Faces New Pressure Over DNA Taken From Immigrant Children
The US government has added the DNA of approximately 133,000 migrant children and teens to a criminal database, which critics say could mean police treat them like suspects “indefinitely.”
www.wired.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
justinhendrix.bsky.social
Brandi Collins-Dexter, an intellectual and an activist, will be missed first and foremost by her family and friends, but also by overlapping communities of scholars and advocates. Her work was brilliant, sharp, funny, empathetic, prescient. I regret that we won't benefit from more of it.
Remembering Brandi Collins-Dexter
Brandi Collins-Dexter was a force of nature who spent her entire career serving others.
www.freepress.net
July 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
themountaingoats.bsky.social
There must be zero compliance with this. Patient confidentiality is the heart and soul of care. Care without confidentiality isn’t care at all. No “but our hands are tied, we need federal funding.” There must be a brick wall. Confidentiality is a no-compromise zone.
metroplex.bsky.social Metroplex @metroplex.bsky.social · Jul 11
HIPPA only exists in name only. Plus the original Nazis used government data on trans people to hunt them down, this is doing the same thing indirectly.
July 11, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Reposted by Alan Butler
epic.org
🗓️⚠️ Happening TODAY, join us here: epic.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
epic.org EPIC @epic.org · Jun 9
🗓️⚠️ We are one week away from our panel on “Risks and Risk Assessments: Reporting Out on California's Proposed AI & Privacy Regulations” on June 16, 9 am PT / 12 pm ET.

Register today:
epic.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
June 16, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
daniellecitron.bsky.social
Our latest “Digital Authoritarianism” in @uchilrev.bsky.social Online. @ariezra.bsky.social and I explore the two-step destructive dance to silence and terrorize critics. We need to see this damage to democracy for what it is. lawreview.uchicago.edu/online-archi...
Digital Authoritarianism | The University of Chicago Law Review
Antidemocratic forces rely on intimidation tactics to silence criticism and opposition. Today’s intimidation playbook follows a two-step pattern. We surface these tactics so their costs to public disc...
lawreview.uchicago.edu
June 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
alondra.bsky.social
This Senate proposal advanced by Sen Cruz would cancel new and existing State laws on any aspect of tech use including civil rights, consumer protection, privacy, fraud, safety for kids, accessibility, and more. In short, we’d lose the few laws we have that ensure responsible AI use. #killthebill
markey.senate.gov Senator Ed Markey @markey.senate.gov · Jun 6
Don’t be confused: The Senate Republican AI language includes the EXACT SAME AI moratorium as the House bill. Almost word-for-word. This is a complete, 10-year ban on state AI regulation. Period.
A red circle around the AI regulation ban language reading: IN GENERAL. Except as provided in para graph (2), no eligible entity or political subdivision thereof may enforce, during the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this subsection, any law or regulation of that eligible entity or a political subdivision thereof limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems entered into interstate commerce.
June 6, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Reposted by Alan Butler
willoremus.com
After records requests from The Washington Post, officials paused the first known, widespread live facial recognition program used by U.S. police.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Important investigative work by @douglasmac.bsky.social & @aaronschaffer.com:
Police secretly monitored New Orleans with facial recognition cameras
Following records requests from The Post, officials paused the first known, widespread live facial recognition program used by police in the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
epic.org
Yesterday, EPIC—represented by Harvard's Cyberlaw Clinic—filed an amicus brief in Kohls v. Bonta, a case about an important issue: How to balance free speech with regulating misleading elections-focused deepfakes that threaten election integrity? 🧵

epic.org/documents/ko...
Kohls v. Bonta
epic.org
April 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
stevevladeck.bsky.social
No, you really don't "have to ask yourself" this.

The right to criticize the government, even for *lawful* policies (let alone what Trump is trying to do), is not just central to the First Amendment's protection of free speech; it is one of the most critically important features of *any* democracy.
joshtpm.bsky.social Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · Apr 23
Seb Gorka, the Hungarian fascist now on his third country is highlighted in Axios abt Trump imprisoning opponents, says "You have to ask yourself, are [Trump critics] technically aiding and abetting them, because aiding and abetting criminals and terrorists is a crime." www.axios.com/2025/04/23/t...
How Trump's immigration crackdown could hit U.S. citizens
Administration officials have teased three tactics that legal analysts say would challenge Americans' rights.
www.axios.com
April 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
robertmaguire.bsky.social
It's a high bar, but this from @radleybalko.bsky.social might be one of the most fucked up things I've read in the new Trump era. For context, this TX lawyer had just had an informal conversation with a family caught up in ICE raids.

Seriously. Read this. radleybalko.substack.com/p/the-courag...
“A couple days later, on March 6, I was working from home at around 11:30 when I got a notice that my VPN had gone down,” he says. “I didn’t think much about it. It can cut out from time to time. About 10 minutes later, I got a knock at the door.” Two men were outside Jackson’s door, dressed in slacks and polos. They were not wearing badges. “I first thought they were going to try to sell me something. But as soon as I opened the door they said, ‘Are you Clayton Jackson?’ I think I shook my head or said ‘yeah,’ and then I heard, ‘We have information that you are obstructing an ongoing immigration investigation.’” Jackson says alarms went off in his head. “My first instinct was to want to know what this was about. That it must be a misunderstanding. So I started to tell them about how I’ve been involved in some pro bono work. Then this voice in my head kicked in and just said, you need to shut the fuck up — don’t say anything.” The officers never identified themselves. They did ask if they could come inside. “I said absolutely not,” Jackson says. “I asked for their names and badge numbers. They said they didn’t have to provide that information at this time. So I told them I’d be calling my lawyer and I shut the door behind me.” Jackson says his mind started racing. “I needed to know who they were, what agency they were with. Then I remembered that I have the Ring camera. Maybe I could watch the video of the incident and figure out who they were from that.” There was no video. “That’s when I learned why my VPN had gone down. It wasn’t the VPN. Someone had shut off my Wifi.” About 15 minutes after the interaction at his front door, Jackson’s Wifi was up and running again.
April 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
hypervisible.blacksky.app
Can’t fully express what a nightmare scenario it is that eugenicists are creating a centralized database of people’s health info.
RFK Jr.'s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans
The autism study is planning to link confidential data "with broad coverage in the U.S. population" in one place for the first time.
www.cbsnews.com
April 22, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Hours ago, @politico.com revealed that DOGE is working with DHS on automating mass deportation efforts — likely explaining why many US citizens, green card holders, and even a Canadian (in Canada) got threatening emails last night terminating “your parole” and telling them to leave the US in 7 days.
Bike_pimp88 • 21h ago 10:48 ..• U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 04/11/2025 Notice of Termination of Parole it is time for you to leave the United States. You are currently here because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paroled you into the United States for a limited period. Pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(5)(A) and 8 C.F.R. § 212.5(e), DHS is now exercising its discretion to terminate your parole. Unless it expires sooner, your parole will terminate 7 days from the date of this notice. If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States - unless you have otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain here. Any benefits you receive in the United States connected with your parole - such as work authorization — will also terminate. You will be subject to potential criminal prosecution, civil fines, and penalties, and any other lawful options available to the federal government. DHS encourages you to leave immediately on your own. You can use the CBP Home mobile app on your phone to make arrangements for your departure. If you are departing the United States via land, you should report your departure once outside the United States via that same app. If you are having trouble reporting your departure via land, visit https://194.cbp.dhs.gov/home for more information about voluntarily reporting your departure. Again, DHS is terminating your parole. Do not attempt to remain in the United States - the federal government will find you. Please depart the United States immediately. I just got this 5 minutes and I'm not even in the United States or have been for months. I'm in Canada and a Canadian resident. I fly to Vegas tomorrow morning for the weekend and a little concerned? Does this look legit SpellWild110 • 2 points 17 hours ago I just got this email too and I am a US citizen? Born and raised in the US. So confused. permalink embed save report reply + [-Potential_Travel_294 • 2 points 17 hours ago Yeah, so confusing permalink embed save parent report reply + [H] ramoros1865 • 2 points 13 hours ago I go this email last night as well and I have a green card [-| ihatemensomuchursick • 2 points 10 hours ago <image> Got this today at 6ame9the thing is I was born here this is the email that sent it: [automatedmessage@cbp.dhs.gov] (mailto:automatedmessage@cbp.dhs.gov) permalink embed save report reply + [-| ihatemensomuchursick • 2 points 10 hours ago Has anyone clicked the link? + |-]PossibleLast3277 • 1 point 20 hours ago I just got this same email right now permalink embed save report reply + [-JOk-Comfortable948 • 1 point 20 hours ago Me too. I am an LPR since an year now and def concerns me seeing this. I got the email from cbpnoreply@cbp.dhs.gov and email looked legit due to its domain though, hope its a scam email. Crazy idiots not sure what they keep doing. permalink embed save parent report reply + |-]PossibleLast3277 • 1 point 20 hours ago I have daca and i am wondering if i got it because I did advance parole in 2023 permalink embed save parent report reply + |-] Potential_Travel_294 • 1 point 19 hours ago I got the same email twice to my two different email adresses, I think its's a scam. permalink embed save parent report reply + [-]Ok-Comfortable948 • 1 point 19 hours ago I got it twice to my same email. permalink embed save parent report reply + [-]Potential_Travel_294 • 1 point 19 hours ago Yeah, me too, I got twice too to a kind of personal email address, it's even not my work email address. permalink embed save parent report reply + [-]thawk1986 • 1 point 11 hours ago It's legit: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/mi grants-cbp-one-app-legal-status-stripped-dhs/ permalink embed save parent report reply
April 12, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Reposted by Alan Butler
waldo.net
Right, so two things will happen as a result of this: Americans who have been the victims of identity theft will be declared dead (this is extremely inconvenient), and immigrants will start using other people's SSNs in order to survive.
lastthird.bsky.social LastThird @lastthird.bsky.social · Apr 10
Oh FFS. I once had what was likely an immigrant worker try to use my SSN ~30 years ago. No harm was done then, but I have zero confidence that these fuckwits will understand or appreciate the distinction when they lay eyes on it now.
April 10, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
petersterne.com
The Trump administration is now canceling people's Social Security Numbers, treating them as if they are legally dead. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/u...
Now, the administration is taking drastic steps to pressure some of those immigrants and others who had legal status to “self-deport” by effectively canceling the Social Security numbers they had lawfully obtained, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times and interviews with six people familiar with the plans. The goal is to cut those people off from using crucial financial services like bank accounts and credit cards, along with their access to government benefits. The effort hinges on a surprising new tactic: repurposing Social Security’s “death master file,” which for years has been used to track dead people who should no longer receive benefits, to include the names of living people who the government believes should be treated as if they are dead. As a result, they would be blacklisted from a coveted form of identity that allows them to make and spend money.
April 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
epic.org
@motherjones.com shared the most comprehensive investigation to date on #ClearviewAI's surveillance tech used in federal immigration enforcement. The investigation cited government records obtained in EPIC’s #FOIA suit. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
April 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
bedoyausa.bsky.social
In 2023, FTC alleged that Amazon Alexa kept recordings of little kids’ voices *forever.* Even when parents asked it to delete them, Amazon *still* kept the transcripts. FTC sued and stopped that. What happens to these cases when tech CEOs have unlimited power in our government?
March 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
alondra.bsky.social
One of the best explanations I’ve seen of the stakes of the disregard of data laws intended to prevent wholesale surveillance of the US public by its govt. The DOGE one-two punch is to disregard or dissolve the data regulations that protect us and then use AI to consolidate info about each of us.
joshtpm.bsky.social Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · Mar 22
The first and most important thing to know about last night's Exec order is that it's intended to break current law and allow people throughout the federal gov look at yr tax returns. Beyond that it's intended to compel states to turn over all their data to the fed govt.
March 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Alan Butler
joshuaholland.bsky.social
RS’s head properly sums up the story: An unconfirmed Trump lackey is threatening to shut down Social Security and impoverish millions in a tantrum over a judge’s ruling.

Bloomberg went with, “Social Security Says DOGE Ruling Could Force Agency to Shut Down,” as if it’s an unintended consequence.
March 21, 2025 at 5:50 PM