activistpost--2020-08-04--Apple Demands UK Retail Landlords To Slash Rents By Half

Apple Inc. soared 10 % Friday after a blowout earnings report , adding $ 171 billion to its market capitalization , making it the world ’ s most valuable company , at $ 1.817 trillion ( surpassing Saudi Aramco ) .
Despite positive earnings during coronavirus lockdowns , Apple has requested UK retail store landlords to slash rent by as much as 50 % .
The Sunday Times reports Apple is pushing for substantial rent reductions across 38 of its UK retail stores and asking for a “ rent-free period.
” In return , the iPhone maker is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , something desperate landlords might have to agree too , considering the implosion of CRE .
“ Apple is seeking to bring its rents into line with other retailers , many of which are benefiting from cut-price deals as landlords struggle to keep their shopping centers occupied , ” The Times said .
Apple said that , while its stores were closed , online demand for iPhones and iPads was “ phenomenal ” during the lockdown .
Its outlets are among the most profitable in the industry , and their popularity means that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley titan as a tenant .
The company ’ s proposals are understood to relate to stores with several years left to run on their leases , meaning that landlords are not yet obliged to make a decision .
Apple declined to comment .
– The Times Apple is asking for rent reductions at a time when the UK has put the brakes on reopenings due to rising coronavirus infections in Europe .
This means foot traffic of retail spaces is set to slump once more , putting pressure on brick and mortar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By Tyler Durden
Apple Inc. soared 10% Friday after a blowout earnings report, adding $171 billion to its market capitalization, making it the world’s most valuable company, at $1.817 trillion (surpassing Saudi Aramco). Despite positive earnings during coronavirus lockdowns, Apple has requested UK retail store landlords to slash rent by as much as 50%.
Apple's is up $170BN today, more than the market cap of Oracle, more than the GDP of Hungary; Apple's value increase today would be the 33rd biggest company in the S&P500 — zerohedge (@zerohedge) July 31, 2020
The Sunday Times reports Apple is pushing for substantial rent reductions across 38 of its UK retail stores and asking for a “rent-free period.” In return, the iPhone maker is expected to extend leases by a couple of years, something desperate landlords might have to agree too, considering the implosion of CRE.
“Apple is seeking to bring its rents into line with other retailers, many of which are benefiting from cut-price deals as landlords struggle to keep their shopping centers occupied,” The Times said.
Apple said that, while its stores were closed, online demand for iPhones and iPads was “phenomenal” during the lockdown. Its outlets are among the most profitable in the industry, and their popularity means that landlords are desperate to keep the Silicon Valley titan as a tenant. The company’s proposals are understood to relate to stores with several years left to run on their leases, meaning that landlords are not yet obliged to make a decision. Apple declined to comment. – The Times
Apple is asking for rent reductions at a time when the UK has put the brakes on reopenings due to rising coronavirus infections in Europe. This means foot traffic of retail spaces is set to slump once more, putting pressure on brick and mortar shops, including Apple stores.
Source: Zerohedge
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activistpost--2020-08-04--It’s Now Virtually Impossible To Get A Bank Loan As Lending Standards Soar

One quarter ago we pointed out something concerning : shortly after JPMorgan reported that its loan loss provision surged five-fold to over $ 8.2 billion for the first quarter , the biggest quarterly increase since the financial crisis , in preparation for the biggest wave of commercial loan defaults since the financial crisis ( a number which in the latest quarter surged to $ 10.5 billion along with all other banks ’ loan loss provisions ) … … the bank hinted that things are about to get much worse when it first halted all non-Paycheck Protection Program based loan issuance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all non-government guaranteed loans ) because as we said “ the only reason why JPMorgan would “ temporarily suspend ” all non-government backstopped loans such as PPP , is if the bank expects a default tsunami to hit coupled with a full-blown depression that wipes out the value of any and all assets pledged to collateralize the loans.
” Shortly after , the bank also said it would raise its mortgage standards , stating that customers applying for a new mortgage will need a credit score of at least 700 , and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal to 20 % of the home ’ s value , a dramatic tightening since the typical minimum requirement for a conventional mortgage is a 620 FICO score and as little as 5 % down .
Reuters echoed our gloomy take , stating that “ the change highlights how banks are quickly shifting gears to respond to the darkening U.S. economic outlook and stress in the housing market , after measures to contain the virus put 16 million people out of work and plunged the country into recession.
” Finally , just days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan product , when it announced that it has stopped accepting new home equity line of credit , or HELOC , applications .
The bank confirmed that this change was made due to the uncertainty in the economy , and didn ’ t give an end date to the pause .
In short , JPM appeared to be quietly exiting the origination of all interest income-generating revenue streams over fears of the coming recession , which prompted us to ask “ just how bad will the US depression get over the next few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ closed indefinitely ” sign on its window.
” On Monday , we got confirmation that it was not just JPMorgan but all US commercial banks that are making the issuance of almost all new credit ( with one notable exception ) virtually impossible , when the Fed ’ s July senior loan officer survey showed that banks tightened lending standards across the board for C & I ( commercial and industrial loans ) , CRE ( commercial real estate ) , consumer ( credit card and auto loans ) and residential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The loan standards for most products – such as C & I loans , residential mortgages and credit cards – were hiked so much they nearly matched the standards during the financial crisis when it was virtually impossible to get any new loans .
This was the second quarter in a row in which loan officers reported sharply tighter financial conditions .
Just as concerning , demand for many loan products also slumped , and in the case of auto loans to record lows , with the exception of jumbo ( both conforming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly flat with demand boosted by record low interest rates .
See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income Here are the details : According to the July Fed ’ s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey ( SLOOS ) , lending standards for commercial and industrial ( C & I ) loans tightened in the second quarter with a near record 71 % of banks on net tightened lending standards for large and medium-market firms ( vs. only 42 % on net in the previous quarter ) , while 70 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small firms ( vs. 40 % on net in the previous quarter ) .
59 % of banks on net increased spreads of loan rates over the cost of funds for large firms , while 54 % on net increased spreads for small firms .
In short , anything that is not explicitly guaranteed by the government such as PPP loans , banks won ’ t go near with a ten foot pole for one simple reason : they have zero visibility if and when they will get repaid .
For banks that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & I loans or credit lines : • 22 % cited a deterioration in the bank ’ s capital position as playing a role , • 97 % cited a less favorable or more uncertain economic outlook , • 31 % cited decreased liquidity in the secondary market for loans , • 7 % cited a deterioration in the bank ’ s own liquidity position , • 26 % cited increased concerns about the effects of legislative changes , supervisory actions , or changes in accounting standards .
More ominously for a consumer-driven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans from large- and medium-sized firms weakened after strengthening in Q1 .
23 % of banks on net reported weaker demand for C & I loans for large and medium-market firms , compared to 8 % on net reporting stronger demand in the previous survey .
The biggest hit was for commercial real estate ( CRE ) loans , where standard tightened significantly in Q2 .
81 % ( +29pp ) of banks on net reported tightening credit standards for construction and land development loans , 78 % ( +26pp ) on net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-farm nonresidential properties , and 64 % ( +15pp ) on net reported tightening lending standards for loans secured by multifamily residential properties .
Demand for CRE loans fell significantly across all three categories .
While demand for mortgages rose modestly , banks made it more difficult to get a mortgage by significantly tightening lending standards for mortgage loans .
Lending standards for GSE-eligible ( +53pp to +55 % ) , non-jumbo , non-GSE eligible ( +48pp to 59 % ) , Qualified Mortgage jumbo ( +50pp to 69 % ) , non-Qualified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , non-Qualified Mortgage non-jumbo ( +49pp to +64 % ) , and subprime ( +29pp to t43 % ) mortgages all tightened .
In other words , all those pleading the case that housing is exploding due to surging loan demand , are forgetting that there is also supply they need to consider , and contrary to conventional wisdom , banks have rarely been less willing to hand out mortgage loans .
Finally , banks ’ willingness to make consumer installment loans declined significantly in Q2 ( -41 % on net vs. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the same time , credit standards for approving credit card applications tightened ( +72 % on net vs. +39 % previously ) , while a modest share of banks also tightened standards for auto loans ( +55 % vs. +16 % previously ) .
Demand for credit card loans declined ( -65 % on net vs. -23 % previously ) , as did demand for auto loans ( -49 % vs. -35 % previously ) .
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By Tyler Durden
One quarter ago we pointed out something concerning: shortly after JPMorgan reported that its loan loss provision surged five-fold to over $8.2 billion for the first quarter, the biggest quarterly increase since the financial crisis, in preparation for the biggest wave of commercial loan defaults since the financial crisis (a number which in the latest quarter surged to $10.5 billion along with all other banks’ loan loss provisions)…
… the bank hinted that things are about to get much worse when it first halted all non-Paycheck Protection Program based loan issuance for the foreseeable future (i.e., all non-government guaranteed loans) because as we said “the only reason why JPMorgan would “temporarily suspend” all non-government backstopped loans such as PPP, is if the bank expects a default tsunami to hit coupled with a full-blown depression that wipes out the value of any and all assets pledged to collateralize the loans.”
Shortly after, the bank also said it would raise its mortgage standards, stating that customers applying for a new mortgage will need a credit score of at least 700, and will be required to make a down payment equal to 20% of the home’s value, a dramatic tightening since the typical minimum requirement for a conventional mortgage is a 620 FICO score and as little as 5% down. Reuters echoed our gloomy take, stating that “the change highlights how banks are quickly shifting gears to respond to the darkening U.S. economic outlook and stress in the housing market, after measures to contain the virus put 16 million people out of work and plunged the country into recession.”
Finally, just days later, JPM also exited yet another loan product, when it announced that it has stopped accepting new home equity line of credit, or HELOC, applications. The bank confirmed that this change was made due to the uncertainty in the economy, and didn’t give an end date to the pause.
In short, JPM appeared to be quietly exiting the origination of all interest income-generating revenue streams over fears of the coming recession, which prompted us to ask “just how bad will the US depression get over the next few months if JPMorgan has just put up a “closed indefinitely” sign on its window.”
On Monday, we got confirmation that it was not just JPMorgan but all US commercial banks that are making the issuance of almost all new credit (with one notable exception) virtually impossible, when the Fed’s July senior loan officer survey showed that banks tightened lending standards across the board for C&I (commercial and industrial loans), CRE (commercial real estate), consumer (credit card and auto loans) and residential real estate (RRE) loans. The loan standards for most products – such as C&I loans, residential mortgages and credit cards – were hiked so much they nearly matched the standards during the financial crisis when it was virtually impossible to get any new loans.
This was the second quarter in a row in which loan officers reported sharply tighter financial conditions.
Just as concerning, demand for many loan products also slumped, and in the case of auto loans to record lows, with the exception of jumbo (both conforming and non-confirming) loans, which were roughly flat with demand boosted by record low interest rates.
Here are the details:
According to the July Fed’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS), lending standards for commercial and industrial (C&I) loans tightened in the second quarter with a near record 71% of banks on net tightened lending standards for large and medium-market firms (vs. only 42% on net in the previous quarter), while 70% of banks on net tightened lending standards for small firms (vs. 40% on net in the previous quarter). 59% of banks on net increased spreads of loan rates over the cost of funds for large firms, while 54% on net increased spreads for small firms. In short, anything that is not explicitly guaranteed by the government such as PPP loans, banks won’t go near with a ten foot pole for one simple reason: they have zero visibility if and when they will get repaid.
For banks that tightened credit standards or terms for C&I loans or credit lines:
22% cited a deterioration in the bank’s capital position as playing a role,
97% cited a less favorable or more uncertain economic outlook,
85% cited a reduced tolerance for risk,
31% cited decreased liquidity in the secondary market for loans,
7% cited a deterioration in the bank’s own liquidity position,
26% cited increased concerns about the effects of legislative changes, supervisory actions, or changes in accounting standards.
More ominously for a consumer-driven economy, demand for C&I loans from large- and medium-sized firms weakened after strengthening in Q1. 23% of banks on net reported weaker demand for C&I loans for large and medium-market firms, compared to 8% on net reporting stronger demand in the previous survey.
The biggest hit was for commercial real estate (CRE) loans, where standard tightened significantly in Q2. 81% (+29pp) of banks on net reported tightening credit standards for construction and land development loans, 78% (+26pp) on net reported tightening standards for loans secured by non-farm nonresidential properties, and 64% (+15pp) on net reported tightening lending standards for loans secured by multifamily residential properties. Demand for CRE loans fell significantly across all three categories.
While demand for mortgages rose modestly, banks made it more difficult to get a mortgage by significantly tightening lending standards for mortgage loans. Lending standards for GSE-eligible (+53pp to +55%), non-jumbo, non-GSE eligible (+48pp to 59%), Qualified Mortgage jumbo (+50pp to 69%), non-Qualified Mortgage jumbo (+55pp to 70%), non-Qualified Mortgage non-jumbo (+49pp to +64%), and subprime (+29pp to t43%) mortgages all tightened. In other words, all those pleading the case that housing is exploding due to surging loan demand, are forgetting that there is also supply they need to consider, and contrary to conventional wisdom, banks have rarely been less willing to hand out mortgage loans.
Finally, banks’ willingness to make consumer installment loans declined significantly in Q2 (-41% on net vs. -20% on net previously). At the same time, credit standards for approving credit card applications tightened (+72% on net vs. +39% previously), while a modest share of banks also tightened standards for auto loans (+55% vs. +16% previously). Demand for credit card loans declined (-65% on net vs. -23% previously), as did demand for auto loans (-49% vs. -35% previously).
Source: Zerohedge
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activistpost--2020-08-04--40 MILLION Americans Could Be Homeless Soon, With “Catastrophic” Impact On Rest Of Economy

As the United States continues to struggle with growing coronavirus infections and varying degrees of local lockdowns , relief measures from the first stimulus package have run dry while federal and state eviction moratoriums are quickly being phased out .
And as tens of millions of people remain unemployed and continue to stay at home to avoid exposing themselves to COVID-19 , experts warn that up to 40 million Americans may be spending their last months with a roof over their head before landlords begin serving eviction notices .
To make matters worse , the humanitarian disaster could have “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market , with knock-on effects extending far beyond the housing and rental industry into the broader economy as a whole – leading to shrinking demand , collapsing housing values , and an all-out economic crisis that could be unprecedented in U.S. history .
Emily Benfer is the chair of the American Bar Association ’ s Task Force Committee on Eviction and co-creator of the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard with the Eviction Lab at Princeton University .
Speaking to CNBC , she warned that up to 40 million people face the imminent risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – about four times as many people as were displaced following the foreclosure crisis of 2008 .
“ The United States is facing the most severe housing crisis in history , ” Benfer said .
“ Countless lives will be negatively altered solely because they couldn ’ t shoulder the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and economic recession.
” The massive extent of the crisis bearing down on U.S. society defies explanation , as well as any easy answers .
“ This data shows us that all the terms people have been using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ cliff ’ , ‘ tsunami ’ , ‘ avalanche ’ and so on — might actually be an understatement , ” eviction expert and housing advocate John Pollock of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel said in a statement .
“ The only reason we haven ’ t already seen two million eviction filings is because of all the CARES Act relief that at this point is either going or gone , ” he added , noting that the end of expanded unemployment benefits , eviction moratoriums , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catastrophe .
But tenants aren ’ t the only ones who may be left out in the cold as a result of the eviction crisis .
Landlords are also expected to default on mortgages if renters are forced from their homes in the middle of the bruising crisis .
See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income “ This really could be catastrophic , and it extends beyond just the rental industry , ” Tendayi Kapfidze , chief economist at LendingTree , told CNBC.
“ It could actually affect the single-family housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And because Congress is faced with a partisan impasse over extending unemployment insurance to over 30 million jobless workers , Americans are seeing their already caved-in income fall from 50 percent to a measly 25 percent of their pre-pandemic levels .
Along with vanishing jobs , income , and government relief , Americans are also increasingly being forced to skip meals , go to bed hungry , or seek food assistance for the first time in their lives .
Advocates fear that unless Congress urgently intervenes on that front , food insecurity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ era .
Since COVID-19 , thousands upon thousands of people jumped to action , continue to fight , to stand , to demand change , ” Pollock tweeted on Monday afternoon .
“ These heroes & helpers represent America ’ s best .
Unlike members of Congress willing to send 30-40 million Americans into homelessness , poverty and hunger.
” The cascading crisis threatens to slam other industries as well , possibly creating a feedback loop that can only worsen the economic woes of businesses and households across U.S. society .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values , even in the owner-occupied market , and in every state and every city there ’ s a patchwork of different , you know , kind of laws that people are using , ” Kapfidze said .
“ So , really , it ’ s necessary that we have a federal plan .
We need a federal plan to deal with this rental crisis or it ’ s going to get worse.
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By Elias Marat
As the United States continues to struggle with growing coronavirus infections and varying degrees of local lockdowns, relief measures from the first stimulus package have run dry while federal and state eviction moratoriums are quickly being phased out.
And as tens of millions of people remain unemployed and continue to stay at home to avoid exposing themselves to COVID-19, experts warn that up to 40 million Americans may be spending their last months with a roof over their head before landlords begin serving eviction notices.
To make matters worse, the humanitarian disaster could have “catastrophic” effects on the entire housing market, with knock-on effects extending far beyond the housing and rental industry into the broader economy as a whole – leading to shrinking demand, collapsing housing values, and an all-out economic crisis that could be unprecedented in U.S. history.
Emily Benfer is the chair of the American Bar Association’s Task Force Committee on Eviction and co-creator of the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard with the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. Speaking to CNBC, she warned that up to 40 million people face the imminent risk of eviction and homelessness in the coming months – about four times as many people as were displaced following the foreclosure crisis of 2008.
“The United States is facing the most severe housing crisis in history,” Benfer said. “Countless lives will be negatively altered solely because they couldn’t shoulder the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and economic recession.”
These numbers should terrify all of us. The #evictioncrisis has reached every corner of the US threatening all of our livelihood while Congress kicks the can. Americans need a home. Demand #rentreliefnow. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121 https://t.co/HDIwILoEaS pic.twitter.com/DcXzPolI1X — Emily A. Benfer (@emilyabenfer) July 31, 2020
The massive extent of the crisis bearing down on U.S. society defies explanation, as well as any easy answers.
“This data shows us that all the terms people have been using to describe what’s coming — ‘cliff’, ‘tsunami’, ‘avalanche’ and so on — might actually be an understatement,” eviction expert and housing advocate John Pollock of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel said in a statement.
“The only reason we haven’t already seen two million eviction filings is because of all the CARES Act relief that at this point is either going or gone,” he added, noting that the end of expanded unemployment benefits, eviction moratoriums, and other expiring protections threaten to worsen the catastrophe.
But tenants aren’t the only ones who may be left out in the cold as a result of the eviction crisis. Landlords are also expected to default on mortgages if renters are forced from their homes in the middle of the bruising crisis.
According to John Pollock, coordinator of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel, in 2016, there were 2.3 million evictions. There could be that many evictions in August alone. — Chris Hedges (@ChrisLynnHedges) August 2, 2020
“This really could be catastrophic, and it extends beyond just the rental industry,” Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist at LendingTree, told CNBC.“It could actually affect the single-family housing market and the economy as a whole.”
And because Congress is faced with a partisan impasse over extending unemployment insurance to over 30 million jobless workers, Americans are seeing their already caved-in income fall from 50 percent to a measly 25 percent of their pre-pandemic levels.
Along with vanishing jobs, income, and government relief, Americans are also increasingly being forced to skip meals, go to bed hungry, or seek food assistance for the first time in their lives. Advocates fear that unless Congress urgently intervenes on that front, food insecurity could reach levels unseen in the modern era.
Since COVID-19, thousands upon thousands of people jumped to action, continue to fight, to stand, to demand change,” Pollock tweeted on Monday afternoon. “These heroes & helpers represent America’s best. Unlike members of Congress willing to send 30-40 million Americans into homelessness, poverty and hunger.”
"Food insecurity for U.S. households…reached its highest reported level since the Census Bureau started tracking the data in May with almost 30 million Americans reporting that they’d not had enough to eat at some point in the seven days through July 21"https://t.co/K3DJ30wj65 — Peter Joseph (@ZeitgeistFilm) August 2, 2020
The cascading crisis threatens to slam other industries as well, possibly creating a feedback loop that can only worsen the economic woes of businesses and households across U.S. society.
“That could lead to a decrease in home values, even in the owner-occupied market, and in every state and every city there’s a patchwork of different, you know, kind of laws that people are using,” Kapfidze said. “So, really, it’s necessary that we have a federal plan. We need a federal plan to deal with this rental crisis or it’s going to get worse.”
Source: The Mind Unleashed
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activistpost--2020-08-05--P is for Predator State: The Building Blocks of Tyranny from A to Z

While America continues to fixate on the drama-filled reality show scripted by the powers-that-be , directed from the nation ’ s capital , and played out in high definition across the country , the American Police State has moved steadily forward .
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a convenient , traumatic , devastating distraction .
The American people , the permanent underclass in America , have allowed themselves to be so distracted and divided that they have failed to notice the building blocks of tyranny being laid down right under their noses by the architects of the Deep State .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : they have all been complicit in carrying out the Deep State ’ s agenda .
Unless something changes to restore the balance of power , the next president—the new boss—will be the same as the old boss .
Frankly , it really doesn ’ t matter what you call the old/new boss—the Deep State , the Controllers , the masterminds , the shadow government , the corporate elite , the police state , the surveillance state , the military industrial complex—so long as you understand that no matter who occupies the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unelected bureaucracy that is actually calling the shots .
If our losses are mounting with every passing day—and they are—it is a calculated siege intended to ensure our defeat at the hands of a totalitarian regime .
Free speech , the right to protest , the right to challenge government wrongdoing , due process , a presumption of innocence , the right to self-defense , accountability and transparency in government , privacy , media , sovereignty , assembly , bodily integrity , representative government : all of these and more are casualties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people .
Set against a backdrop of government surveillance , militarized federal police , SWAT team raids , asset forfeiture , overcriminalization , armed surveillance drones , whole body scanners , stop and frisk searches , and the like—all of which have been sanctioned by Congress , the White House and the courts—our constitutional freedoms are being steadily chipped away at , undermined , eroded , whittled down , and generally discarded .
As a result , the American people have been treated like enemy combatants , to be spied on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ searched , subjected to all manner of intrusions , intimidated , invaded , raided , manhandled , censored , silenced , shot at , locked up , and denied due process .
None of these dangers have dissipated in any way .
They have merely disappeared from our televised news streams .
It ’ s time to get educated on what ’ s really going on .
Thus , in the interest of liberty and truth , here ’ s an A-to-Z primer that spells out the grim realities of life in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be talking about anymore .
A is for the AMERICAN POLICE STATE .
A police state “ is characterized by bureaucracy , secrecy , perpetual wars , a nation of suspects , militarization , surveillance , widespread police presence , and a citizenry with little recourse against police actions.
” B is for our battered BILL OF RIGHTS .
In the militarized police culture that is America today , where you can be kicked , punched , tasered , shot , intimidated , harassed , stripped , searched , brutalized , terrorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a police officer , and that officer is rarely held accountable for violating your rights , the Bill of Rights doesn ’ t amount to much .
C is for CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE .
This governmental scheme to deprive Americans of their liberties—namely , the right to property—is being carried out under the guise of civil asset forfeiture , a government practice wherein government agents ( usually the police and now TSA agents ) seize private property they “ suspect ” may be connected to criminal activity .
Then , whether or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have taken place , the government keeps the citizen ’ s property and it ’ s virtually impossible to get it back .
D is for DRONES .
It was estimated that at least 30,000 drones would be airborne in American airspace by 2020 , part of an $ 80 billion industry .
Although some drones will be used for benevolent purposes , many will also be equipped with lasers , tasers and scanning devices , among other weapons—all aimed at “ we the people.
” E is for EMERGENCY STATE .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subjected to an “ emergency state ” that justifies all manner of government tyranny and power grabs in the so-called name of national security .
The government ’ s ongoing attempts to declare so-called national emergencies in order to circumvent the Constitution ’ s system of checks and balances constitutes yet another expansion of presidential power that exposes the nation to further constitutional peril .
F is for FASCISM .
A study conducted by Princeton and Northwestern University concluded that the U.S. government does not represent the majority of American citizens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is ruled by the rich and powerful , or the so-called “ economic elite.
” Moreover , the researchers concluded that policies enacted by this governmental elite nearly always favor special interests and lobbying groups .
In other words , we are being ruled by an oligarchy disguised as a democracy , and arguably on our way towards fascism—a form of government where private corporate interests rule , money calls the shots , and the people are seen as mere economic units or databits .
G is for GRENADE LAUNCHERS and GLOBAL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 18 billion worth of battlefield-appropriate military weapons , vehicles and equipment such as drones , tanks , and grenade launchers to domestic police departments across the country .
As a result , most small-town police forces now have enough firepower to render any citizen resistance futile .
Now take those small-town police forces , train them to look and act like the military , and then enlist them to be part of the United Nations ’ Strong Cities Network program , and you not only have a standing army that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but one that is part of a global police force .
H is for HOLLOW-POINT BULLETS .
The government ’ s efforts to militarize and weaponize its agencies and employees is reaching epic proportions , with federal agencies as varied as the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration stockpiling millions of lethal hollow-point bullets , which violate international law .
Ironically , while the government continues to push for stricter gun laws for the general populace , the U.S. military ’ s arsenal of weapons makes the average American ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I is for the INTERNET OF THINGS , in which internet-connected “ things ” monitor your home , your health and your habits in order to keep your pantry stocked , your utilities regulated and your life under control and relatively worry-free .
The key word here , however , is control .
This “ connected ” industry propels us closer to a future where police agencies apprehend virtually anyone if the government “ thinks ” they may commit a crime , driverless cars populate the highways , and a person ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to track their movements , target them for advertising , and keep them under perpetual surveillance .
J is for JAILING FOR PROFIT .
Having outsourced their inmate population to private prisons run by private corporations , this profit-driven form of mass punishment has given rise to a $ 70 billion private prison industry that relies on the complicity of state governments to keep their privately run prisons full by jailing large numbers of Americans for petty crimes .
K is for KENTUCKY V. KING .
In an 8-1 ruling , the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into homes , without a warrant , even if it ’ s the wrong home as long as they think they may have a reason to do so .
Despite the fact that the police in question ended up pursuing the wrong suspect , invaded the wrong apartment and violated just about every tenet that stands between the citizenry and a police state , the Court sanctioned the warrantless raid , leaving Americans with little real protection in the face of all manner of abuses by law enforcement officials .
L is for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement and private agencies to track the whereabouts of vehicles , and their occupants , all across the country .
This data collected on tens of thousands of innocent people is also being shared between police agencies , as well as with government fusion centers and private companies .
This puts Big Brother in the driver ’ s seat .
M is for MAIN CORE .
Since the 1980s , the U.S. government has acquired and maintained , without warrant or court order , a database of names and information on Americans considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Salon reports , this database , reportedly dubbed “ Main Core , ” is to be used by the Army and FEMA in times of national emergency or under martial law to locate and round up Americans seen as threats to national security .
There are at least 8 million Americans in the Main Core database .
N is for NO-KNOCK RAIDS .
Owing to the militarization of the nation ’ s police forces , SWAT teams are now increasingly being deployed for routine police matters .
In fact , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out every year .
That translates to more than 200 SWAT team raids every day in which police crash through doors , damage private property , terrorize adults and children alike , kill family pets , assault or shoot anyone that is perceived as threatening—and all in the pursuit of someone merely suspected of a crime , usually possession of some small amount of drugs .
O is for OVERCRIMINALIZATION and OVERREGULATION .
Thanks to an overabundance of 4500-plus federal crimes and 400,000 plus rules and regulations , it ’ s estimated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day without knowing it .
As a result of this overcriminalization , we ’ re seeing an uptick in Americans being arrested and jailed for such absurd “ violations ” as letting their kids play at a park unsupervised , collecting rainwater and snow runoff on their own property , growing vegetables in their yard , and holding Bible studies in their living room .
P is for PATHOCRACY and PRECRIME .
When our own government treats us as things to be manipulated , maneuvered , mined for data , manhandled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then jailed in profit-driven private prisons if we dare step out of line , we are no longer operating under a constitutional republic .
Instead , what we are experiencing is a pathocracy : tyranny at the hands of a psychopathic government , which “ operates against the interests of its own people except for favoring certain groups.
” Couple that with the government ’ s burgeoning precrime programs , which will use fusion centers , data collection agencies , behavioral scientists , corporations , social media , and community organizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance , facial recognition , predictive policing , biometrics , and behavioral epigenetics in order to identify and deter so-called potential “ extremists , ” dissidents or rabble-rousers .
Bear in mind that anyone seen as opposing the government—whether they ’ re Left , Right or somewhere in between—is now viewed as an extremist .
Q is for QUALIFIED IMMUNITY .
Qualified immunity allows police officers to walk away without paying a dime for their wrongdoing .
Conveniently , those deciding whether a cop should be immune from having to personally pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same system , all cronies with a vested interest in protecting the police and their infamous code of silence : city and county attorneys , police commissioners , city councils and judges .
R is for ROADSIDE STRIP SEARCHES and BLOOD DRAWS .
The courts have increasingly erred on the side of giving government officials—especially the police—vast discretion in carrying out strip searches , blood draws and even anal and vaginal probes for a broad range of violations , no matter how minor the offense .
In the past , strip searches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where police were confident that a serious crime was in progress .
In recent years , however , strip searches have become routine operating procedures in which everyone is rendered a suspect and , as such , is subjected to treatment once reserved for only the most serious of criminals .
S is for the SURVEILLANCE STATE .
On any given day , the average American going about his daily business will be monitored , surveilled , spied on and tracked in more than 20 different ways , by both government and corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electronic concentration camp in which we live , whether you ’ re walking through a store , driving your car , checking email , or talking to friends and family on the phone , you can be sure that some government agency , whether the NSA or some other entity , is listening in and tracking your behavior .
This doesn ’ t even begin to touch on the corporate trackers that monitor your purchases , web browsing , Facebook posts and other activities taking place in the cyber sphere .
T @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as tasers , stun guns , rubber pellets and the like have been used by police as weapons of compliance more often and with less restraint—even against women and children—and in some instances , even causing death .
These “ nonlethal ” weapons also enable police to aggress with the push of a button , making the potential for overblown confrontations over minor incidents that much more likely .
A Taser Shockwave , for instance , can electrocute a crowd of people at the touch of a button U is for UNARMED CITIZENS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it unusual to hear about incidents in which police shoot unarmed individuals first and ask questions later , often attributed to a fear for their safety .
Yet the fatality rate of on-duty patrol officers is reportedly far lower than many other professions , including construction , logging , fishing , truck driving , and even trash collection .
V is for VIRUSES AND FORCED VACCINATIONS .
What started out as an apparent effort to prevent a novel coronavirus from sickening the nation ( and the world ) has become yet another means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. ) can expand their powers , abuse their authority , and further oppress their constituents .
With millions of dollars in stimulus funds being directed towards policing agencies across the country , the federal government plans to fight this COVID-19 virus with riot gear , gas masks , ballistic helmets , drones , and hi-tech surveillance technology .
The road we are traveling is paved with lockdowns , SWAT team raids , mass surveillance and forced vaccinations .
Now there ’ s talk of mobilizing the military to deliver forced vaccinations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing , and heavy fines and jail time for those who dare to venture out without a mask , congregate in worship without the government ’ s blessing , or re-open their businesses without the government ’ s say-so .
W is for WHOLE-BODY SCANNERS .
Using either x-ray radiation or radio waves , scanning devices and government mobile units are being used not only to “ see ” through your clothes but to spy on you within the privacy of your home .
While these mobile scanners are being sold to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety measures , we can ill afford to forget that such systems are rife with the potential for abuse , not only by government bureaucrats but by the technicians employed to operate them .
X is for X-KEYSCORE , one of the many spying programs carried out by the National Security Agency that targets every person in the United States who uses a computer or phone .
This top-secret program “ allows analysts to search with no prior authorization through vast databases containing emails , online chats and the browsing histories of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Using your face , mannerisms , social media and “ you-ness ” against you , you are now be tracked based on what you buy , where you go , what you do in public , and how you do what you do .
Facial recognition software promises to create a society in which every individual who steps out into public is tracked and recorded as they go about their daily business .
The goal is for government agents to be able to scan a crowd of people and instantaneously identify all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs are being rolled out in states all across the country .
Z is for ZERO TOLERANCE .
We have moved into a new paradigm in which young people are increasingly viewed as suspects and treated as criminals by school officials and law enforcement alike , often for engaging in little more than childish behavior or for saying the “ wrong ” word .
In some jurisdictions , students have also been penalized under school zero tolerance policies for such inane “ crimes ” as carrying cough drops , wearing black lipstick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Listerine or Scope , and carrying fold-out combs that resemble switchblades .
The lesson being taught to our youngest—and most impressionable—citizens is this : in the American police state , you ’ re either a prisoner ( shackled , controlled , monitored , ordered about , limited in what you can do and say , your life not your own ) or a prison bureaucrat ( politician , police officer , judge , jailer , spy , profiteer , etc. )
.
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality we must come to terms with is that in the post-9/11 America we live in today , the government does whatever it wants , freedom be damned .
We have moved beyond the era of representative government and entered a new age .
You can call it the age of authoritarianism .
Or fascism .
Or oligarchy .
Or the American police state .
Whatever label you want to put on it , the end result is the same : tyranny .
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America : The War on the American People is available at .
Whitehead can be contacted at [ email protected ] .
John W. Whitehead ’ s weekly commentaries are available for publication to newspapers and web publications at no charge .
Please contact [ email protected ] to obtain reprint permission .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s coming !
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By John W. Whitehead
“When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; a culture-death is a clear possibility.” — Professor Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Discourse in the Age of Show Business
While America continues to fixate on the drama-filled reality show scripted by the powers-that-be, directed from the nation’s capital, and played out in high definition across the country, the American Police State has moved steadily forward.
Nothing has changed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a convenient, traumatic, devastating distraction.
The American people, the permanent underclass in America, have allowed themselves to be so distracted and divided that they have failed to notice the building blocks of tyranny being laid down right under their noses by the architects of the Deep State.
Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton: they have all been complicit in carrying out the Deep State’s agenda. Unless something changes to restore the balance of power, the next president—the new boss—will be the same as the old boss.
Frankly, it really doesn’t matter what you call the old/new boss—the Deep State, the Controllers, the masterminds, the shadow government, the corporate elite, the police state, the surveillance state, the military industrial complex—so long as you understand that no matter who occupies the White House, it is a profit-driven, an unelected bureaucracy that is actually calling the shots.
If our losses are mounting with every passing day—and they are—it is a calculated siege intended to ensure our defeat at the hands of a totalitarian regime.
Free speech, the right to protest, the right to challenge government wrongdoing, due process, a presumption of innocence, the right to self-defense, accountability and transparency in government, privacy, media, sovereignty, assembly, bodily integrity, representative government: all of these and more are casualties in the government’s war on the American people.
Set against a backdrop of government surveillance, militarized federal police, SWAT team raids, asset forfeiture, overcriminalization, armed surveillance drones, whole body scanners, stop and frisk searches, and the like—all of which have been sanctioned by Congress, the White House and the courts—our constitutional freedoms are being steadily chipped away at, undermined, eroded, whittled down, and generally discarded.
As a result, the American people have been treated like enemy combatants, to be spied on, tracked, scanned, frisked, searched, subjected to all manner of intrusions, intimidated, invaded, raided, manhandled, censored, silenced, shot at, locked up, and denied due process.
None of these dangers have dissipated in any way.
They have merely disappeared from our televised news streams.
It’s time to get educated on what’s really going on. Thus, in the interest of liberty and truth, here’s an A-to-Z primer that spells out the grim realities of life in the American Police State that no one seems to be talking about anymore.
A is for the AMERICAN POLICE STATE. A police state “is characterized by bureaucracy, secrecy, perpetual wars, a nation of suspects, militarization, surveillance, widespread police presence, and a citizenry with little recourse against police actions.”
B is for our battered BILL OF RIGHTS. In the militarized police culture that is America today, where you can be kicked, punched, tasered, shot, intimidated, harassed, stripped, searched, brutalized, terrorized, wrongfully arrested, and even killed by a police officer, and that officer is rarely held accountable for violating your rights, the Bill of Rights doesn’t amount to much.
C is for CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE. This governmental scheme to deprive Americans of their liberties—namely, the right to property—is being carried out under the guise of civil asset forfeiture, a government practice wherein government agents (usually the police and now TSA agents) seize private property they “suspect” may be connected to criminal activity. Then, whether or not any crime is actually proven to have taken place, the government keeps the citizen’s property and it’s virtually impossible to get it back.
D is for DRONES. It was estimated that at least 30,000 drones would be airborne in American airspace by 2020, part of an $80 billion industry. Although some drones will be used for benevolent purposes, many will also be equipped with lasers, tasers and scanning devices, among other weapons—all aimed at “we the people.”
E is for EMERGENCY STATE. From 9/11 to COVID-19, we have been the subjected to an “emergency state” that justifies all manner of government tyranny and power grabs in the so-called name of national security. The government’s ongoing attempts to declare so-called national emergencies in order to circumvent the Constitution’s system of checks and balances constitutes yet another expansion of presidential power that exposes the nation to further constitutional peril.
F is for FASCISM. A study conducted by Princeton and Northwestern University concluded that the U.S. government does not represent the majority of American citizens. Instead, the study found that the government is ruled by the rich and powerful, or the so-called “economic elite.” Moreover, the researchers concluded that policies enacted by this governmental elite nearly always favor special interests and lobbying groups. In other words, we are being ruled by an oligarchy disguised as a democracy, and arguably on our way towards fascism—a form of government where private corporate interests rule, money calls the shots, and the people are seen as mere economic units or databits.
G is for GRENADE LAUNCHERS and GLOBAL POLICE. The federal government has distributed more than $18 billion worth of battlefield-appropriate military weapons, vehicles and equipment such as drones, tanks, and grenade launchers to domestic police departments across the country. As a result, most small-town police forces now have enough firepower to render any citizen resistance futile. Now take those small-town police forces, train them to look and act like the military, and then enlist them to be part of the United Nations’ Strong Cities Network program, and you not only have a standing army that operates beyond the reach of the Constitution but one that is part of a global police force.
H is for HOLLOW-POINT BULLETS. The government’s efforts to militarize and weaponize its agencies and employees is reaching epic proportions, with federal agencies as varied as the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration stockpiling millions of lethal hollow-point bullets, which violate international law. Ironically, while the government continues to push for stricter gun laws for the general populace, the U.S. military’s arsenal of weapons makes the average American’s handgun look like a Tinker Toy.
I is for the INTERNET OF THINGS, in which internet-connected “things” monitor your home, your health and your habits in order to keep your pantry stocked, your utilities regulated and your life under control and relatively worry-free. The key word here, however, is control. This “connected” industry propels us closer to a future where police agencies apprehend virtually anyone if the government “thinks” they may commit a crime, driverless cars populate the highways, and a person’s biometrics are constantly scanned and used to track their movements, target them for advertising, and keep them under perpetual surveillance.
J is for JAILING FOR PROFIT. Having outsourced their inmate population to private prisons run by private corporations, this profit-driven form of mass punishment has given rise to a $70 billion private prison industry that relies on the complicity of state governments to keep their privately run prisons full by jailing large numbers of Americans for petty crimes.
K is for KENTUCKY V. KING. In an 8-1 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that police officers can break into homes, without a warrant, even if it’s the wrong home as long as they think they may have a reason to do so. Despite the fact that the police in question ended up pursuing the wrong suspect, invaded the wrong apartment and violated just about every tenet that stands between the citizenry and a police state, the Court sanctioned the warrantless raid, leaving Americans with little real protection in the face of all manner of abuses by law enforcement officials.
L is for LICENSE PLATE READERS, which enable law enforcement and private agencies to track the whereabouts of vehicles, and their occupants, all across the country. This data collected on tens of thousands of innocent people is also being shared between police agencies, as well as with government fusion centers and private companies. This puts Big Brother in the driver’s seat.
M is for MAIN CORE. Since the 1980s, the U.S. government has acquired and maintained, without warrant or court order, a database of names and information on Americans considered to be threats to the nation. As Salon reports, this database, reportedly dubbed “Main Core,” is to be used by the Army and FEMA in times of national emergency or under martial law to locate and round up Americans seen as threats to national security. There are at least 8 million Americans in the Main Core database.
N is for NO-KNOCK RAIDS. Owing to the militarization of the nation’s police forces, SWAT teams are now increasingly being deployed for routine police matters. In fact, more than 80,000 of these paramilitary raids are carried out every year. That translates to more than 200 SWAT team raids every day in which police crash through doors, damage private property, terrorize adults and children alike, kill family pets, assault or shoot anyone that is perceived as threatening—and all in the pursuit of someone merely suspected of a crime, usually possession of some small amount of drugs.
O is for OVERCRIMINALIZATION and OVERREGULATION. Thanks to an overabundance of 4500-plus federal crimes and 400,000 plus rules and regulations, it’s estimated that the average American actually commits three felonies a day without knowing it. As a result of this overcriminalization, we’re seeing an uptick in Americans being arrested and jailed for such absurd “violations” as letting their kids play at a park unsupervised, collecting rainwater and snow runoff on their own property, growing vegetables in their yard, and holding Bible studies in their living room.
P is for PATHOCRACY and PRECRIME. When our own government treats us as things to be manipulated, maneuvered, mined for data, manhandled by police and other government agents, mistreated, and then jailed in profit-driven private prisons if we dare step out of line, we are no longer operating under a constitutional republic. Instead, what we are experiencing is a pathocracy: tyranny at the hands of a psychopathic government, which “operates against the interests of its own people except for favoring certain groups.” Couple that with the government’s burgeoning precrime programs, which will use fusion centers, data collection agencies, behavioral scientists, corporations, social media, and community organizers and by relying on cutting-edge technology for surveillance, facial recognition, predictive policing, biometrics, and behavioral epigenetics in order to identify and deter so-called potential “extremists,” dissidents or rabble-rousers. Bear in mind that anyone seen as opposing the government—whether they’re Left, Right or somewhere in between—is now viewed as an extremist.
Q is for QUALIFIED IMMUNITY. Qualified immunity allows police officers to walk away without paying a dime for their wrongdoing. Conveniently, those deciding whether a cop should be immune from having to personally pay for misbehavior on the job all belong to the same system, all cronies with a vested interest in protecting the police and their infamous code of silence: city and county attorneys, police commissioners, city councils and judges.
R is for ROADSIDE STRIP SEARCHES and BLOOD DRAWS. The courts have increasingly erred on the side of giving government officials—especially the police—vast discretion in carrying out strip searches, blood draws and even anal and vaginal probes for a broad range of violations, no matter how minor the offense. In the past, strip searches were resorted to only in exceptional circumstances where police were confident that a serious crime was in progress. In recent years, however, strip searches have become routine operating procedures in which everyone is rendered a suspect and, as such, is subjected to treatment once reserved for only the most serious of criminals.
S is for the SURVEILLANCE STATE. On any given day, the average American going about his daily business will be monitored, surveilled, spied on and tracked in more than 20 different ways, by both government and corporate eyes and ears. A byproduct of the electronic concentration camp in which we live, whether you’re walking through a store, driving your car, checking email, or talking to friends and family on the phone, you can be sure that some government agency, whether the NSA or some other entity, is listening in and tracking your behavior. This doesn’t even begin to touch on the corporate trackers that monitor your purchases, web browsing, Facebook posts and other activities taking place in the cyber sphere.
T is for TASERS. Nonlethal weapons such as tasers, stun guns, rubber pellets and the like have been used by police as weapons of compliance more often and with less restraint—even against women and children—and in some instances, even causing death. These “nonlethal” weapons also enable police to aggress with the push of a button, making the potential for overblown confrontations over minor incidents that much more likely. A Taser Shockwave, for instance, can electrocute a crowd of people at the touch of a button
U is for UNARMED CITIZENS SHOT BY POLICE. No longer is it unusual to hear about incidents in which police shoot unarmed individuals first and ask questions later, often attributed to a fear for their safety. Yet the fatality rate of on-duty patrol officers is reportedly far lower than many other professions, including construction, logging, fishing, truck driving, and even trash collection.
V is for VIRUSES AND FORCED VACCINATIONS. What started out as an apparent effort to prevent a novel coronavirus from sickening the nation (and the world) has become yet another means by which world governments (including the U.S.) can expand their powers, abuse their authority, and further oppress their constituents. With millions of dollars in stimulus funds being directed towards policing agencies across the country, the federal government plans to fight this COVID-19 virus with riot gear, gas masks, ballistic helmets, drones, and hi-tech surveillance technology. The road we are traveling is paved with lockdowns, SWAT team raids, mass surveillance and forced vaccinations. Now there’s talk of mobilizing the military to deliver forced vaccinations, mass surveillance in order to carry out contact tracing, and heavy fines and jail time for those who dare to venture out without a mask, congregate in worship without the government’s blessing, or re-open their businesses without the government’s say-so.
W is for WHOLE-BODY SCANNERS. Using either x-ray radiation or radio waves, scanning devices and government mobile units are being used not only to “see” through your clothes but to spy on you within the privacy of your home. While these mobile scanners are being sold to the American public as necessary security and safety measures, we can ill afford to forget that such systems are rife with the potential for abuse, not only by government bureaucrats but by the technicians employed to operate them.
X is for X-KEYSCORE, one of the many spying programs carried out by the National Security Agency that targets every person in the United States who uses a computer or phone. This top-secret program “allows analysts to search with no prior authorization through vast databases containing emails, online chats and the browsing histories of millions of individuals.”
Y is for YOU-NESS. Using your face, mannerisms, social media and “you-ness” against you, you are now be tracked based on what you buy, where you go, what you do in public, and how you do what you do. Facial recognition software promises to create a society in which every individual who steps out into public is tracked and recorded as they go about their daily business. The goal is for government agents to be able to scan a crowd of people and instantaneously identify all of the individuals present. Facial recognition programs are being rolled out in states all across the country.
Z is for ZERO TOLERANCE. We have moved into a new paradigm in which young people are increasingly viewed as suspects and treated as criminals by school officials and law enforcement alike, often for engaging in little more than childish behavior or for saying the “wrong” word. In some jurisdictions, students have also been penalized under school zero tolerance policies for such inane “crimes” as carrying cough drops, wearing black lipstick, bringing nail clippers to school, using Listerine or Scope, and carrying fold-out combs that resemble switchblades. The lesson being taught to our youngest—and most impressionable—citizens is this: in the American police state, you’re either a prisoner (shackled, controlled, monitored, ordered about, limited in what you can do and say, your life not your own) or a prison bureaucrat (politician, police officer, judge, jailer, spy, profiteer, etc.).
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the reality we must come to terms with is that in the post-9/11 America we live in today, the government does whatever it wants, freedom be damned.
We have moved beyond the era of representative government and entered a new age.
You can call it the age of authoritarianism. Or fascism. Or oligarchy. Or the American police state.
Whatever label you want to put on it, the end result is the same: tyranny.
ABOUT JOHN W. WHITEHEAD
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute . His new book Battlefield America: The War on the American People is available at www.amazon.com . Whitehead can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org.
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John W. Whitehead’s weekly commentaries are available for publication to newspapers and web publications at no charge. Please contact staff@rutherford.org to obtain reprint permission.
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Madness in Melbourne

Melbourne , that glorious city in the state of Victoria in Australia , granted me some of the best travel days of my life during two separate trips each lasting a full week .
A happy , civilized , highly educated people are here living amidst modern architecture , inspiring bridges , and natural beauty , a place where even the police are kind , and when you ask them for directions they reply with a smile , and when you say thank you , they say “ No worries.
” Now there are big worries in Melbourne .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without precedent in this country ’ s history .
His name is Dan Andrews ( a sweet-sounding name that masks the tyrant he has become ) , and he tweets out pictures of empty streets to brag about what he has achieved in the name of suppressing a virus .
Tacitus ’ s line about the Roman empire comes to mind : “ Where they make a desert , they call it peace.
” Australia is the only country in the world that has a law that people can ’ t be mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host to one of the world ’ s meanest governments .
The catastrophe began with a spring lockdown before there were any cases of C-19 much less deaths .
The ethos in Australia was one of extreme exclusion and suppression of the virus , not as bad as New Zealand but pretty bad .
The rest of the world can catch this disease , but Australia would use its geographical isolation and political intelligence to ban the virus .
The virus will be in awe and know to stay away forever .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not how viruses work .
Still , it seemed to work , at first .
That ’ s because the virus had yet to arrive .
When the virus did arrive , the futility of the suppression strategy was revealed .
Melbourne had set up quarantine hotels for people arriving from abroad or returning from cruises .
They would spend 14 days in isolation to purge themselves of possible infection .
Then all would be okay .
There was a problem : the wily virus escaped .
As a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having suppressed the virus turned to panic and full lockdown .
Internal borders are sealed .
And Melbourne has become a living hell , not because of the virus ( which is still mild ) but because of the unleashing of a hellish police state .
A friend summarized the situation for me : • Police may now enter anyone ’ s home without a warrant .
• $ 1,652 fine if outside without “ a valid reason ” – an amount being raised by the day .
• $ 200 fine for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times ) .
• Can only exercise once per day , for up to 1 hour .
• Only one person per household , per day can leave the house ( including for groceries ) .
• Can ’ t go more than 3 miles from your home .
• No gatherings of any size .
• Army is on the streets fining/arresting people .
• “ Since March 21 , a total of 193,740 spot checks have been conducted by police across Victoria.
” • Protests/activism is illegal ; people have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Media is EXTREMELY biased , calls protesters “ right wing conspiracy nutjobs ” and won ’ t allow discussion of whether these lockdowns are right or not .
• Several thousand people were placed under house arrest and unable to leave for ANY reason , with food rations delivered by the army , leading to appalling levels of personal trauma .
• Australia won ’ t release how many fines they ’ ve given out , but an ABC news report says it ’ s over $ 5.2 million so far .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a city of 5 million+ people .
People are HATEFUL to each other , everyone is cannibalising their neighbours ( calling police to report any little infraction of the rules and turning on each other like some socialist hellhole ) .
• Billboards outside on the street that say in capital letters : “ WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?
STAY HOME.
” They feel extremely oppressive , like we ’ re being yelled at by a very oppressive government .
• The Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shows complete and utter disdain for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s blamed children ( yes , really ) for not taking this seriously enough .
Every chance he gets , he tells us it ’ s OUR fault the virus is spreading ( even though that ’ s what viruses do – they spread ) .
• It ’ s not just the Victorian Premier – the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is just as terrible .
He ’ s encouraged all of this , and he was responsible for the first lockdown .
• 1984 dystopian language : billboards everywhere saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Have they gone mad ?
• There ’ s probably more but at this point I honestly lost track of all the insanity that ’ s happened .
• All because 147 people died in the state of Victoria ( total population is 6.359 million ) , almost all of the deaths are over 70 with comorbidities , same as everywhere else in the world .
This is lockdown ideology at work .
It is tyranny without limit , at the expense of all human dignity , decency , and rights .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
Like everywhere else on the planet , Melbourne will have to reach herd immunity from C-19 at some point .
Those who deny that are risking not only liberty and health but civilization itself .
Perhaps the other states in Australia will observe the destruction in Victoria and learn to take another path when the virus first arrives in their territory , as it surely will .
Lockdowns are not science ; they are brutality .
I cry for the once-great city of Melbourne this day .
May there be justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be granted some modicum of decency and wisdom .
Jeffrey A. Tucker is Editorial Director for the American Institute for Economic Research .
He is the author of many thousands of articles in the scholarly and popular press and eight books in 5 languages , most recently The Market Loves You .
He is also the editor of The Best of Mises .
He speaks widely on topics of economics , technology , social philosophy , and culture .
Jeffrey is available for speaking and interviews via his email .
Tw | FB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Jeffrey A. Tucker
Melbourne, that glorious city in the state of Victoria in Australia, granted me some of the best travel days of my life during two separate trips each lasting a full week.
A happy, civilized, highly educated people are here living amidst modern architecture, inspiring bridges, and natural beauty, a place where even the police are kind, and when you ask them for directions they reply with a smile, and when you say thank you, they say “No worries.”
Now there are big worries in Melbourne.
The Premier has imposed a vicious police state without precedent in this country’s history. His name is Dan Andrews (a sweet-sounding name that masks the tyrant he has become), and he tweets out pictures of empty streets to brag about what he has achieved in the name of suppressing a virus.
Tacitus’s line about the Roman empire comes to mind: “Where they make a desert, they call it peace.”
Australia is the only country in the world that has a law that people can’t be mean to each other. Now it is host to one of the world’s meanest governments.
The catastrophe began with a spring lockdown before there were any cases of C-19 much less deaths. The ethos in Australia was one of extreme exclusion and suppression of the virus, not as bad as New Zealand but pretty bad. The rest of the world can catch this disease, but Australia would use its geographical isolation and political intelligence to ban the virus. The virus will be in awe and know to stay away forever.
It’s not a good theory because that’s not how viruses work.
Still, it seemed to work, at first. That’s because the virus had yet to arrive.
When the virus did arrive, the futility of the suppression strategy was revealed.
Melbourne had set up quarantine hotels for people arriving from abroad or returning from cruises. They would spend 14 days in isolation to purge themselves of possible infection. Then all would be okay. There was a problem: the wily virus escaped.
As a result, a nation’s pride in having suppressed the virus turned to panic and full lockdown. Internal borders are sealed. And Melbourne has become a living hell, not because of the virus (which is still mild) but because of the unleashing of a hellish police state.
A friend summarized the situation for me:
Police may now enter anyone’s home without a warrant.
Curfew 8:00pm.
$1,652 fine if outside without “a valid reason” – an amount being raised by the day.
Can’t visit any family or friends.
$200 fine for no mask (mandatory masks at all times).
Can only exercise once per day, for up to 1 hour.
Only one person per household, per day can leave the house (including for groceries).
Can’t go more than 3 miles from your home.
Weddings are illegal.
No gatherings of any size.
Army is on the streets fining/arresting people.
“Since March 21, a total of 193,740 spot checks have been conducted by police across Victoria.”
Protests/activism is illegal; people have already been arrested for peaceful gatherings.
Media is EXTREMELY biased, calls protesters “right wing conspiracy nutjobs” and won’t allow discussion of whether these lockdowns are right or not.
Several thousand people were placed under house arrest and unable to leave for ANY reason, with food rations delivered by the army, leading to appalling levels of personal trauma.
Australia won’t release how many fines they’ve given out, but an ABC news report says it’s over $5.2 million so far.
Streets of Melbourne are empty, even in a city of 5 million+ people. People are HATEFUL to each other, everyone is cannibalising their neighbours (calling police to report any little infraction of the rules and turning on each other like some socialist hellhole).
Billboards outside on the street that say in capital letters: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STAY HOME.” They feel extremely oppressive, like we’re being yelled at by a very oppressive government.
The Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews shows complete and utter disdain for us, constantly blaming us. He’s blamed children (yes, really) for not taking this seriously enough. Every chance he gets, he tells us it’s OUR fault the virus is spreading (even though that’s what viruses do – they spread).
It’s not just the Victorian Premier – the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is just as terrible. He’s encouraged all of this, and he was responsible for the first lockdown.
1984 dystopian language: billboards everywhere saying “Staying apart keeps us together.” Have they gone mad?
There’s probably more but at this point I honestly lost track of all the insanity that’s happened.
All because 147 people died in the state of Victoria (total population is 6.359 million), almost all of the deaths are over 70 with comorbidities, same as everywhere else in the world.
This is lockdown ideology at work. It is tyranny without limit, at the expense of all human dignity, decency, and rights. The politicians make a desert and call it health.
Like everywhere else on the planet, Melbourne will have to reach herd immunity from C-19 at some point. Those who deny that are risking not only liberty and health but civilization itself.
Perhaps the other states in Australia will observe the destruction in Victoria and learn to take another path when the virus first arrives in their territory, as it surely will. Lockdowns are not science; they are brutality.
I cry for the once-great city of Melbourne this day. May there be justice. And may its future political leadership be granted some modicum of decency and wisdom.
Source: AIER.org
Jeffrey A. Tucker is Editorial Director for the American Institute for Economic Research. He is the author of many thousands of articles in the scholarly and popular press and eight books in 5 languages, most recently The Market Loves You. He is also the editor of The Best of Mises. He speaks widely on topics of economics, technology, social philosophy, and culture. Jeffrey is available for speaking and interviews via his email. Tw | FB | LinkedIn
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activistpost--2020-08-05--Portland, Maine Bans Facial Recognition Technology

Yesterday , the Portland City Council unanimously voted to ban government use of facial recognition technology in the city .
The growing movement to prohibit the use of facial recognition at the state and local levels could hinder the operation of a growing national facial recognition network .
City Councilor Pious Ali introduced the ordinance last November .
Under the new law , “ No city official or employee shall obtain , retain , access , or use any facial recognition technology or information provided by any facial recognition technology.
” The proposal was delayed numerous times after its introduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with little fanfare on Monday .
Before passing the ordinance , the council amendment it to remove language that would have imposed criminal penalties on city officials violating the law .
According to The Portland Press Herald , there were concerns the criminal penalties would violate collective bargaining agreements .
A referendum with similar language will go before Portland voters in November .
If it passes , it will replace the ordinance and could not be repealed or altered for five years .
Portland follows the lead of seven Massachusetts cities that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six other Massachusetts cities in banning facial recognition technology – Somerville , Northampton , Brookline , Cambridge , Springfield , and Boston .
The wave of facial recognition bans in Massachusetts makes up part of a broader nationwide movement to limit this invasive surveillance technology at the local and state level .
San Francisco , Oakland , and Berkeley have all prohibited government use of facial recognition technology .
Portland , Oregon is considering a similar ban .
The California governor signed a bill that imposes a 3-year ban on the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cameras , leading to the shutdown of one of the biggest facial recognition programs in the country .
And New York is considering a bill to ban facial recognition in schools and on police body cameras .
A recent report revealed that the federal government has turned state drivers ’ license photos into a giant facial recognition database , putting virtually every driver in America in a perpetual electronic police lineup .
The revelations generated widespread outrage , but this story isn ’ t new .
The federal government has been developing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
The FBI rolled out a nationwide facial-recognition program in the fall of 2014 , with the goal of building a giant biometric database with pictures provided by the states and corporate friends .
In 2016 , the Center on Privacy and Technology at Georgetown Law released “ The Perpetual Lineup , ” a massive report on law enforcement use of facial recognition technology in the U.S. You can read the complete report at perpetuallineup.org .
The organization conducted a year-long investigation and collected more than 15,000 pages of documents through more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report paints a disturbing picture of intense cooperation between the federal government , and state and local law enforcement to develop a massive facial recognition database .
There are many technical and legal problems with facial recognition , including significant concerns about the accuracy of the technology , particularly when reading the facial features of minority populations .
During a test run by the ACLU of Northern California , facial recognition misidentified 26 members of the California legislature as people in a database of arrest photos .
With facial recognition technology , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to track individuals in real-time .
These systems allow law enforcement agents to use video cameras and continually scan everybody who walks by .
According to the report , several major police departments have expressed an interest in this type of real-time tracking .
Documents revealed agencies in at least five major cities , including Los Angeles , either claimed to run real-time face recognition off of street cameras , bought technology with the capability , or expressed written interest in buying it .
In all likelihood , the federal government heavily involves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain this technology .
The feds provide grant money to local law enforcement agencies for a vast array of surveillance gear , including ALPRs , stingray devices and drones .
The federal government essentially encourages and funds a giant nationwide surveillance net and then taps into the information via fusion centers and the Information Sharing Environment ( ISE ) .
Fusion centers were sold as a tool to combat terrorism , but that is not how they are being used .
The ACLU pointed to a bipartisan congressional report to demonstrate the true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They haven ’ t contributed anything meaningful to counterterrorism efforts .
Instead , they have largely served as police surveillance and information sharing nodes for law enforcement efforts targeting the frequent subjects of police attention : Black and brown people , immigrants , dissidents , and the poor.
” Fusion centers operate within the broader ISE .
According to its website , the ISE “ provides analysts , operators , and investigators with information needed to enhance national security .
These analysts , operators , and investigators…have mission needs to collaborate and share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector partners and our foreign allies.
” In other words , ISE serves as a conduit for the sharing of information gathered without a warrant .
Known ISE partners include the Office of Director of National Intelligence which oversees 17 federal agencies and organizations , including the NSA .
ISE utilizes these partnerships to collect and share data on the millions of unwitting people they track .
Reports that the Berkeley Police Department in cooperation with a federal fusion center deployed cameras equipped to surveil a “ free speech ” rally and Antifa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government and local authorities in facial recognition surveillance .
In a nutshell , without state and local cooperation , the feds have a much more difficult time gathering information .
Passage of state laws and local ordinances banning and limiting facial recognition eliminates one avenue for gathering facial recognition data .
Simply put , data that doesn ’ t exist can not be entered into federal databases .
Michael Maharrey [ send him email ] is the Communications Director for the Tenth Amendment Center .
He is from the original home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky and currently resides in northern Florida .
See his blog archive here and his article archive here.He is the author of the book , Our Last Hope : Rediscovering the Lost Path to Liberty .
You can visit his personal website at MichaelMaharrey.com and like him on Facebook HERE .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Michael Maharrey
Yesterday, the Portland City Council unanimously voted to ban government use of facial recognition technology in the city. The growing movement to prohibit the use of facial recognition at the state and local levels could hinder the operation of a growing national facial recognition network.
City Councilor Pious Ali introduced the ordinance last November. Under the new law, “No city official or employee shall obtain, retain, access, or use any facial recognition technology or information provided by any facial recognition technology.”
The proposal was delayed numerous times after its introduction but was brought up and passed 9-0 with little fanfare on Monday.
Before passing the ordinance, the council amendment it to remove language that would have imposed criminal penalties on city officials violating the law. According to The Portland Press Herald, there were concerns the criminal penalties would violate collective bargaining agreements.
A referendum with similar language will go before Portland voters in November. If it passes, it will replace the ordinance and could not be repealed or altered for five years.
Portland follows the lead of seven Massachusetts cities that have banned facial recognition. Easthampton recently joined six other Massachusetts cities in banning facial recognition technology – Somerville, Northampton, Brookline, Cambridge, Springfield, and Boston.
The wave of facial recognition bans in Massachusetts makes up part of a broader nationwide movement to limit this invasive surveillance technology at the local and state level. San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley have all prohibited government use of facial recognition technology. Portland, Oregon is considering a similar ban. The California governor signed a bill that imposes a 3-year ban on the use of the tech in conjunction with police body-worn cameras, leading to the shutdown of one of the biggest facial recognition programs in the country. And New York is considering a bill to ban facial recognition in schools and on police body cameras.
IMPACT ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS
A recent report revealed that the federal government has turned state drivers’ license photos into a giant facial recognition database, putting virtually every driver in America in a perpetual electronic police lineup. The revelations generated widespread outrage, but this story isn’t new. The federal government has been developing a massive, nationwide facial recognition system for years.
The FBI rolled out a nationwide facial-recognition program in the fall of 2014, with the goal of building a giant biometric database with pictures provided by the states and corporate friends.
In 2016, the Center on Privacy and Technology at Georgetown Law released “The Perpetual Lineup,” a massive report on law enforcement use of facial recognition technology in the U.S. You can read the complete report at perpetuallineup.org. The organization conducted a year-long investigation and collected more than 15,000 pages of documents through more than 100 public records requests. The report paints a disturbing picture of intense cooperation between the federal government, and state and local law enforcement to develop a massive facial recognition database.
“Face recognition is a powerful technology that requires strict oversight. But those controls, by and large, don’t exist today,” report co-author Clare Garvie said. “With only a few exceptions, there are no laws governing police use of the technology, no standards ensuring its accuracy, and no systems checking for bias. It’s a wild west.”
There are many technical and legal problems with facial recognition, including significant concerns about the accuracy of the technology, particularly when reading the facial features of minority populations. During a test run by the ACLU of Northern California, facial recognition misidentified 26 members of the California legislature as people in a database of arrest photos.
With facial recognition technology, police and other government officials have the capability to track individuals in real-time. These systems allow law enforcement agents to use video cameras and continually scan everybody who walks by. According to the report, several major police departments have expressed an interest in this type of real-time tracking. Documents revealed agencies in at least five major cities, including Los Angeles, either claimed to run real-time face recognition off of street cameras, bought technology with the capability, or expressed written interest in buying it.
In all likelihood, the federal government heavily involves itself in helping state and local agencies obtain this technology. The feds provide grant money to local law enforcement agencies for a vast array of surveillance gear, including ALPRs, stingray devices and drones. The federal government essentially encourages and funds a giant nationwide surveillance net and then taps into the information via fusion centers and the Information Sharing Environment (ISE).
Fusion centers were sold as a tool to combat terrorism, but that is not how they are being used. The ACLU pointed to a bipartisan congressional report to demonstrate the true nature of government fusion centers: “They haven’t contributed anything meaningful to counterterrorism efforts. Instead, they have largely served as police surveillance and information sharing nodes for law enforcement efforts targeting the frequent subjects of police attention: Black and brown people, immigrants, dissidents, and the poor.”
Fusion centers operate within the broader ISE. According to its website, the ISE “provides analysts, operators, and investigators with information needed to enhance national security. These analysts, operators, and investigators…have mission needs to collaborate and share information with each other and with private sector partners and our foreign allies.” In other words, ISE serves as a conduit for the sharing of information gathered without a warrant. Known ISE partners include the Office of Director of National Intelligence which oversees 17 federal agencies and organizations, including the NSA. ISE utilizes these partnerships to collect and share data on the millions of unwitting people they track.
Reports that the Berkeley Police Department in cooperation with a federal fusion center deployed cameras equipped to surveil a “free speech” rally and Antifa counterprotests provided the first solid link between the federal government and local authorities in facial recognition surveillance.
In a nutshell, without state and local cooperation, the feds have a much more difficult time gathering information. Passage of state laws and local ordinances banning and limiting facial recognition eliminates one avenue for gathering facial recognition data. Simply put, data that doesn’t exist cannot be entered into federal databases.
Source: Tenth Amendment Center
Michael Maharrey [send him email] is the Communications Director for the Tenth Amendment Center. He is from the original home of the Principles of ’98 – Kentucky and currently resides in northern Florida. See his blog archive here and his article archive here.He is the author of the book, Our Last Hope: Rediscovering the Lost Path to Liberty. You can visit his personal website at MichaelMaharrey.com and like him on Facebook HERE.
Become a Patron!
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE! Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Parler, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-08-04--Microphones Listening to More than Voice Commands with Google-ADT Home Security System

Like all wireless “ Smart ” devices , smart speakers emit harmful electromagnetic radiation which can make people and animals sick ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 .
5 .
6 .
7 ) AND increase their cancer risk ( see 1 .
2 .
3 , 4 ) while collecting data sometimes without users knowledge or consent .
According to a recent report , smart speakers are always listening and ready to react when connected to Google ’ s new home security system .
Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands .
Using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s $ 450 million ADT deal .
Last week , Reddit user Brazedowl received a curious notification on his phone : Google was telling him that a smoke detector in his home had gone off .
Brazedowl , a teacher from North Carolina who goes by Drew in real life , knew about the smoke alarm — he was at home himself and had just fried some sausages in his kitchen .
But up until that moment , he had no idea that his smart speaker was able to detect such events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoke detectors smart , ” he wrote on Reddit .
“ Pretty rad.
” A Google spokesperson told Protocol that the feature was accidentally enabled for some users through a recent software update and has since been rolled back .
But in light of Monday ’ s news that Google invested $ 450 million — acquiring a 6.6 % stake — in home security provider ADT , it may be a sign of things to come for Google , as it hints at the company ’ s secret home security superpower : millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s homes .
Once the deal closes , ADT ’ s more than 20,000 installers will also sell Google-made smart displays , security cameras and other hardware , and ADT will more closely integrate Google technology into its own home security offerings .
“ The goal is to give customers fewer false alarms , more ways to receive alarm events , and better detection of potential incidents inside and around the home , ” Google Nest VP and GM Rishi Chandra said in a blog post .
Brazedowl wasn ’ t the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preview of this kind of incident detection in recent days .
Other Reddit users reported getting security alerts after breaking glassware , as well as some false alarms triggered by sounds like popped bubble wrap and high-frequency noises that could be confused with a smoke alarm .
Google announced support for the detection of “ critical sounds ” for paying subscribers of its Nest Aware home security subscription service in May .
“ Your Nest speakers and displays will notify you if a critical sound is detected , like a smoke alarm or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Home app , ” the company wrote in a blog post .
“ From there , you can hear an audio clip or listen live within the Home app to confirm the alarm .
”

By B.N. Frank
Like all wireless “Smart” devices, smart speakers emit harmful electromagnetic radiation which can make people and animals sick (see 1, 2, 3, 4. 5. 6. 7) AND increase their cancer risk (see 1. 2. 3, 4) while collecting data sometimes without users knowledge or consent.
According to a recent report, smart speakers are always listening and ready to react when connected to Google’s new home security system.
From Protocol:
Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands. Using them for home security could supercharge Google’s $450 million ADT deal.
Janko Roettgers
August 3, 2020
Last week, Reddit user Brazedowl received a curious notification on his phone: Google was telling him that a smoke detector in his home had gone off. Brazedowl, a teacher from North Carolina who goes by Drew in real life, knew about the smoke alarm — he was at home himself and had just fried some sausages in his kitchen. But up until that moment, he had no idea that his smart speaker was able to detect such events. “Google just made my dumb smoke detectors smart,” he wrote on Reddit. “Pretty rad.”
A Google spokesperson told Protocol that the feature was accidentally enabled for some users through a recent software update and has since been rolled back. But in light of Monday’s news that Google invested $450 million — acquiring a 6.6% stake — in home security provider ADT, it may be a sign of things to come for Google, as it hints at the company’s secret home security superpower: millions of smart speakers already in people’s homes.
Once the deal closes, ADT’s more than 20,000 installers will also sell Google-made smart displays, security cameras and other hardware, and ADT will more closely integrate Google technology into its own home security offerings. “The goal is to give customers fewer false alarms, more ways to receive alarm events, and better detection of potential incidents inside and around the home,” Google Nest VP and GM Rishi Chandra said in a blog post.
Brazedowl wasn’t the only Google smart speaker user receiving a possible preview of this kind of incident detection in recent days. Other Reddit users reported getting security alerts after breaking glassware, as well as some false alarms triggered by sounds like popped bubble wrap and high-frequency noises that could be confused with a smoke alarm.
Google announced support for the detection of “critical sounds” for paying subscribers of its Nest Aware home security subscription service in May. “Your Nest speakers and displays will notify you if a critical sound is detected, like a smoke alarm or glass breaking, by sending an alert to the Home app,” the company wrote in a blog post. “From there, you can hear an audio clip or listen live within the Home app to confirm the alarm.”
Read full article