US non-profit sues FBI for info about phone hacking capability
Agencies
December 24, 2020
Washington, Dec 24: Non-profit organisation American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) demanding more information about its capability to gain access to information stored on personal mobile devices. The FBI is secretly breaking the encryption that secures our cell phones and laptops from identity thieves, hackers, and abusive governments, and it refuses to even acknowledge that it has information about these efforts even though some details have been filed publicly in federal court, ACLU said in a statement this week.
The non-profit said that publicly available information indicates that the Electronic Device Analysis Unit (EDAU), a team within the FBI, has acquired or is in the process of acquiring software that allows the government to unlock and decrypt information that is otherwise securely stored on cell phones.
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THE BUZZ A long-awaited federal aid package will soon bring California both relief and frustration.
For months
, elected officials from Gov. Gavin Newsom to county supervisors have stressed the need for Congress to shore up their deteriorating financial situations. State and local governments are constrained by the imperatives of balanced budgets, but the feds don’t face that limit on their capacity to spend. Politicians and fiscal planners have urged Congress to help them avert more painful cuts to jobs and services, which they worry could hamstring a faltering recovery.
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A news release from Biden’s transition team described the appointees as “diverse, experienced, and talented individuals.”
President-elect Joe Biden arrives at the Queen Theater for a virtual appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Dec. 17, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. | Joshua Roberts/Getty Images
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President-elect Joe Biden further filled out the incoming White House communications team on Friday, tapping several former campaign staffers for assistant and deputy-level roles in the West Wing’s press shop.
The personnel announcements come after Biden campaign aides have expressed frustration in recent weeks that they were being passed up for posts in the new administration in favor of veteran officials from former President Barack Obama’s White House.
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Biden names Indian-American Vedant Patel as Assistant White House Press Secretary
President-elect Joe Biden on Friday named Indian-American Vedant Patel to be the Assistant Press Secretary as he announced the additional members of the White House Communications and Press Staff.
Patel is currently the senior spokesperson of the Biden Inaugural and has been a part of the Biden Campaign as well where he served as Regional Communications Director.
During President-elect Bidenâs primary campaign, Patel served as the Nevada and Western Primary-States Communications Director.
Previously, he worked as Communications Director to Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Western Regional Press Secretary at the Democratic National Committee, and Communications Director to Congressman Mike Honda.
Indian-American Vedant Patel named in Joe Biden s White House Press Staff
Indian-American Vedant Patel named in Joe Biden s White House Press Staff
Indian-American Vedant Patel has been appointed as one of the position holders in US President-elect Joe Biden s White House Press Staff.
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UPDATED: December 19, 2020 11:22 IST
Born in India and raised in California, Vedant Patel is a graduate of the University of California-Riverside and the University of Florida. (Photo: buildbackbetter.gov)
Indian-American Vedant Patel has been appointed as the Assistant Press Secretary in US President-elect Joe Biden s administration among additional members of the White House Communications and Press Staff.