@ericgarland *Speaking* of arson, agents provocateurs and covering tracks...
How *interesting* we were hearing about cartels and organized crime at the news conference. The. Next. Day.
Guess what the most-classic #RICO crime is?
*Narcotics.*
How *interesting* we were hearing about cartels and organized crime at the news conference. The. Next. Day.
Guess what the most-classic #RICO crime is?
*Narcotics.*
@ericgarland So if you're burning records, or just need manpower to create chaos, what's the *one* kind of organization you *don't* want involved while law enforcement all the way up to the @FBI and @DHSgov are watching?
Oh, yes. *Any* kind of drug cartel.
Oh, yes. *Any* kind of drug cartel.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov Now, before you start babbling about an all-powerful Barr to prosecution/living Mob security blanket, or what have you...
Remember, if you're burning buildings in a city and committing local, state and Federal crimes...
You're looking at local, state and Federal prosecutors.
Remember, if you're burning buildings in a city and committing local, state and Federal crimes...
You're looking at local, state and Federal prosecutors.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov Which might *sound* bad, but when they know on *Day* *One* that most of you are from out of town?
Then you're facing Federal, state & multiple local prosecutors, if they know you're tied to, say, a cartel, white-supremacist group, etc.
Maybe multiple states' & a *lot* of DAs.
Then you're facing Federal, state & multiple local prosecutors, if they know you're tied to, say, a cartel, white-supremacist group, etc.
Maybe multiple states' & a *lot* of DAs.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov And I know what you're thinking.
"A young man can't *buy* that kind of adventure."
No, life in Rikers isn't for sale, sad to say.
But it's sometimes the price you pay.
Now let's remember what a RICO implies.
Everyone in a criminal conspiracy being liable for *every* crime...
"A young man can't *buy* that kind of adventure."
No, life in Rikers isn't for sale, sad to say.
But it's sometimes the price you pay.
Now let's remember what a RICO implies.
Everyone in a criminal conspiracy being liable for *every* crime...
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov Undertaken in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Sounds rough, eh?
But *also,* the statute of limitations, one understands, does not start until the *last* act undertaken in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Sounds rough, eh?
But *also,* the statute of limitations, one understands, does not start until the *last* act undertaken in furtherance of the conspiracy.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov Like, that building you burned yesterday, or the obstruction of justice you undertook today.
What if, as Eric threaded above, you happen to be in one of those *longer*-running conspiracies?
What if, as Eric threaded above, you happen to be in one of those *longer*-running conspiracies?
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov What becomes fascinating here isn't just all the low-level people who can be picked up via facial recognition.
It's all the search warrants as well as the arrests which are apt to stem from these events.
It's all the search warrants as well as the arrests which are apt to stem from these events.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov And no, trying to burn down lots of property or making whole cities feel they're under siege probably won't get laughed off.
Are there some other fun things to consider about *automating* facial recognition?
Remember all this is happening on TV, security cameras or cell videos.
Are there some other fun things to consider about *automating* facial recognition?
Remember all this is happening on TV, security cameras or cell videos.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov And if they've already identified many criminals as being part of cartels within a *day,* that's *bad* for *you.*
Really. Bad.
If the @NSAGov is helping track this, publicly, as of Day Two, that's also. Really. Really. *Bad.*
For the bad guys...
Really. Bad.
If the @NSAGov is helping track this, publicly, as of Day Two, that's also. Really. Really. *Bad.*
For the bad guys...
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov Particularly to the extent RICO charges bind all of this together, and they already know who you are.
But you'll recall those Russian and other foreign citizens who spend time in the spy business?
With or notably *without* training?
But you'll recall those Russian and other foreign citizens who spend time in the spy business?
With or notably *without* training?
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov Who have no Constitutional protections against surveillance?
No #fvey understandings putting them off limits?
No #fvey understandings putting them off limits?
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov What happens when FBI counterintelligence & company can sift *all* of DC's Federal security footage for these people? And then run an automated check for anyone they're meeting who they're expressly *not* supposed to meet without being reported.
People with top-secret clearance?
People with top-secret clearance?
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov The details will vary, but the computers, once trained in a GAN (generative adversarial network), can ID these people - some of whose faces may have been used to help train them in the first place.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov Automated lip reading or super-enhancement of any available audio can provide transcripts.
Unmasking can proceed as necessary.
Undoubtedly there are applicable rules and laws, but known foreign-citizen spies don't have some automatic legal shield.
Unmasking can proceed as necessary.
Undoubtedly there are applicable rules and laws, but known foreign-citizen spies don't have some automatic legal shield.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov Now consider:
You can do this for Russian citizens plying the spy trade.
See Maria Butina.
But also a *host* of other foreign-citizen operatives from China to Saudi Arabia to the UAE to Israel.
Frankly, you can likely track any ally not rhyming w/Britain/Canada/Australia/NZ.
You can do this for Russian citizens plying the spy trade.
See Maria Butina.
But also a *host* of other foreign-citizen operatives from China to Saudi Arabia to the UAE to Israel.
Frankly, you can likely track any ally not rhyming w/Britain/Canada/Australia/NZ.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov Did I say DC?
Ah. Now we get to the interesting part.
One, DC isn't the. Only. Place. On. Earth with security cameras. Even ones with cameras under Federal control.
The super-resolution enhancements discussed means removed glare/refraction from windows becomes trivial.
Ah. Now we get to the interesting part.
One, DC isn't the. Only. Place. On. Earth with security cameras. Even ones with cameras under Federal control.
The super-resolution enhancements discussed means removed glare/refraction from windows becomes trivial.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov So this isn't just about what's on the street in DC. But what's visible through the windows, with that obstruction brushed aside & the images heightened to unnatural clarity.
*Then* add any further footage you have access to.
Incidental collection. Volunteered cell videos. Etc.
*Then* add any further footage you have access to.
Incidental collection. Volunteered cell videos. Etc.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov But *also* consider everything you legally have access to in a few other trivial locations, or which our allies have access to.
New York. London. Los Angeles. Ottawa. Canberra. Chicago. St Louis.
Etc, etc.
Ad infinitum, because now we're talking about the NSA.
New York. London. Los Angeles. Ottawa. Canberra. Chicago. St Louis.
Etc, etc.
Ad infinitum, because now we're talking about the NSA.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov What footage do *they* have access to which even they once didn't realize was valuable, that's now a data mine for foreign-citizen operatives?
Those foreign-citizen spies - NOCs or official cover - become a *further* web linking together the global operations of our adversaries.
Those foreign-citizen spies - NOCs or official cover - become a *further* web linking together the global operations of our adversaries.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov A few critical details are redacted, but the basics are hardly a secret.
And this is from just one person, unconnected to intelligence, who invents in his spare time.
And this is from just one person, unconnected to intelligence, who invents in his spare time.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov Oh, and one more detail.
Everything described above, and in the larger system for tracking all weapons of mass destruction/drugs/trafficked people/diamonds/counterfeit cash/etc...
Is really *non*-disruptive technology.
It's not, say, quantum computing.
Everything described above, and in the larger system for tracking all weapons of mass destruction/drugs/trafficked people/diamonds/counterfeit cash/etc...
Is really *non*-disruptive technology.
It's not, say, quantum computing.
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov All of this is happening as we stand on the cusp of quantum computing, which can do two things.
One of which is quantum search.
So, if you're thinking the above system would be too much for the vast supercomputing power of the NSA.
Not only are you wrong...
One of which is quantum search.
So, if you're thinking the above system would be too much for the vast supercomputing power of the NSA.
Not only are you wrong...
@ericgarland @FBI @DHSgov @NSAGov But quantum search will increase their ability to sift for these details almost unimaginably.
Likewise for FBI-Cyber, etc.
I'm actually holding back when it comes to truly disruptive technology.
It's all about pacing.
And breaking these networks is a critical first step.
Likewise for FBI-Cyber, etc.
I'm actually holding back when it comes to truly disruptive technology.
It's all about pacing.
And breaking these networks is a critical first step.
