Month: December 2016

City Passes Ordinance Mandating CCTV Surveillance By Businesses, Including Doctors And Lawyers Offices | Techdirt

All commercial businesses located here will now be required to install and maintain security cameras or face a fine or jail following passage of a new citywide ordinance by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen Tuesday night.“A matter that has been of increasing concern to the board lately is keeping the citizens of Madison safe, as well as the people who come here to visit our stores, through the use of security cameras,” City Attorney John Hedglin said. “It’s very important to have a record of what happens in as many places as possible.”The ordinance has 30 days before it takes effect.

Source: City Passes Ordinance Mandating CCTV Surveillance By Businesses, Including Doctors And Lawyers Offices | Techdirt

California Blames Incarcerated Workers for Unsafe Conditions and Amputations


Injury logs generated by California Prison Industries Authority provide a rare window into the varied dangers that face inmate laborers.

Source: California Blames Incarcerated Workers for Unsafe Conditions and Amputations

NYPD Officers Search Wrong Home; Post Photos Of Handcuffed Family To Snapchat | Techdirt


A family in Brooklyn is outraged after NYPD officers raided their home, put everyone in handcuffs and then posted a picture of them on social media with the caption “Merry Christmas Its NYPD.” The ordeal led to the suspension of an officer.The Brownsville residents were so upset that not only did they file a report, but they also called 911.

Source: NYPD Officers Search Wrong Home; Post Photos Of Handcuffed Family To Snapchat | Techdirt

Prenda Law “copyright trolls” Steele and Hansmeier arrested | Ars Technica

Lawyers who turned porn lawsuits into big business now face criminal charges.

Source: Prenda Law “copyright trolls” Steele and Hansmeier arrested | Ars Technica

Stupid law of the week: South Carolina wants anti-porno chips in PCs that cost $20 to disable • The Register


And it’s only Monday

Source: Stupid law of the week: South Carolina wants anti-porno chips in PCs that cost $20 to disable • The Register

John Deere Really Doesn’t Want You to Own That Tractor | Electronic Frontier Foundation


John Deere is at it again, trying to strip customers of the right to open up and repair their own property. In the new License Agreement for John Deere Embedded Software [PDF], customers are forbidden to exercise their repair rights or to even look at the software running the tractor or the signals it generates.

Source: John Deere Really Doesn’t Want You to Own That Tractor | Electronic Frontier Foundation

FCC Republicans vow to gut net neutrality rules “as soon as possible” | Ars Technica


Pai and O’Rielly also promise not to enforce disclosure rules on small ISPs.

Source: FCC Republicans vow to gut net neutrality rules “as soon as possible” | Ars Technica

UK’s new Snoopers’ Charter just passed an encryption backdoor law by the backdoor • The Register


How far will it go? You’ll have to ask the Home Secretary

Source: UK’s new Snoopers’ Charter just passed an encryption backdoor law by the backdoor • The Register