Texas Police Invested Millions in a Shadowy Phone-Tracking Software. They Won’t Say How They’ve Used It. One sheriff who leads an anti-smuggling task force says the software helps “develop leads to eventually obtain probable cause.” Civil liberties experts say its use violates constitutional rights.

NEW: Police—sheriffs, Texas state cops, and even ICE—can follow the location of your smart phone without a warrant.

Yet, we know little about how this software has been used.

via @texasobserver.org + @pulitzercenter.org

www.texasobserver.org/texas-police...

If you are attending SEJ, make sure to join us! We are covering many aspects of safety and will be answering all your questions with @yemile.bsky.social

A Knight-funded pilot project, the Helpline is a collaboration among 6 journalist safety organizations: aegissafety.bsky.social, @pressfreedom.bsky.social, @freedom.press, the IWMF, @rcfp.org, and PEN America —and leading safety advisors @jejem.bsky.social @yemile.bsky.social and Ramy Ghaly. (3/3)

Amidst an increasingly hostile environment, the Helpline has been extended through the first 100 days of the Trump administration. U.S. journalists and news outlets concerned about their safety can email urgentcare[at]electionsos[dot]org with “SAFETY” in the subject line for safety consults. (2/3)

Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline - PEN America If you’re a U.S.-based journalist or news outlet concerned about safety or under attack for your work, you are not alone.

Since launching on Election Day, the Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline has helped 40+ newsrooms & 200+ journalists at risk. Facing violent threats, doxxing, & legal intimidation, US journalists and newsrooms are finding it harder to do their vital work. pen.org/journalist-s...

The Egyptian Commission Expresses Concern Over the Expansion of Political Trials Amid Fears of Continued Detention Through Sentencing Instead of Pretrial Detention - المفوضية المصرية للحقوق والحريات The Commission Demands Fair Trials That Allow Prisoners to Speak About Years of Violations and Com

Egyptian human rights NGO Commission for Human Rights & Freedoms sound alarm over expansion of political trials @jejem.bsky.social @neilcihrs.bsky.social
www.ec-rf.net/the-egyptian...

😂😂😂😂 request for new features already

Great to have friends who know how nerdy u r & the platforms you support. This is an adorable Christmas gift supporting @signal.org, support them to keep us safe and secure.

@khalifaetal.bsky.social said, Signal is "Signal and not ready to mingle"...talk about good security practices 😂

"The Syrian people topple the regime of Bashar al-Assad"

The “human slaughterhouse” is no more

You may have heard of the Egyptian-British activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah who continues to be unjustly detained in Egypt despite the completion of his five year sentence.

النهاردة اليوم ٦٤ من إضراب د. ليلى سويف عن الطعام، واليوم الأول من الإضراب التتابعي التضامني معها
أعلن مشاركتي في إضراب عن الطعام لمدة 24 ساعة تضامنًا مع ليلى سويف، وأضم صوتي إلى صوتها للمطالبة بالإفراج عن ابنها علاء عبد الفتاح، المحتجز بالمخالفة للقانون رغم انتهاء محكوميته في 29 سبتمبر الماضي.

Laila Soueif stands with an exhausted body but an unbroken spirit, demanding Alaa’s right to freedom and her right as a mother to embrace her son.
Laila's health is in critical danger.

#FreeAlaa
‎#الحرية_لعلاء_عبد_الفتاح
‎#أدعم_إضراب_ليلى
‎#تجوع_ليحيا
#DcForAlaa

I raise my voice alongside hers, demanding the release of her son Alaa Abdel Fattah, who is being unlawfully detained despite completing his sentence on September 29th.

#FreeAlaa
‎#الحرية_لعلاء_عبد_الفتاح
‎#أدعم_إضراب_ليلى
‎#تجوع_ليحيا
#DcForAlaa

Today marks day 64 of Dr. Laila Souif's hunger strike and day 1 of our consecutive one-day hunger strikes in solidarity with her.

I'm participating in a 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with Laila.

You can join: tally.so/r/3x0gWv

#FreeAlaa
‎#الحرية_لعلاء_عبد_الفتاح
#DcForAlaa

My sister is on hunger strike to free her son Alaa Abd el-Fattah from jail in Egypt. We don’t want her to die | Ahdaf Soueif The British-Egyptian activist is imprisoned alongside thousands of other political detainees. We’re appealing to the UK government for help, says author Ahdaf Soueif

"My sister is 68, and today is her 60th day on hunger strike. This is her latest battle against injustice, and she knows it may be her last."

Don't miss this piece by Dr. Ahdaf Soueif on her sister Dr. Laila, mother of Egyptian political prisoner Alaa Abdel Fattah: www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...

US House passes bill to punish non-profits deemed to support ‘terrorism’ Critics argue it would give Trump sweeping powers to crack down arbitrarily on his political opponents

It’s genuinely terrifying to see this as it is widely used by the Egyptian gov. Many people experienced how such laws are and were used to suppress pro democracy work or anyone that holds governments to account, used to suppress freedom of expression, academic freedom, and freedom of the press.

Yesterday, Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah turned 43 years old, marking his 11th birthday behind bars, away from his family and friends.

May it be the last one apart from his loved ones.

Thinking of him as he is held illegally in custody beyond the completion of his sentence.

#FreeAlaa

Will Lebanon face internet blackout as war damages telecoms? Lebanon's telecoms minister has warned about the 'dangerous' scenario that could unravel amid a telecoms blackout as Israel's bombards infrastructure.

Since the war started, the minister of Telecom in Lebanon has been telling us there will be plan A and B, and a year later, we're discovering there is no plan at all. He should have spend more time on fixing the problems rather than scaremongering live on television.

www.newarab.com/news/will-le...

Use Signal’s new call links The encrypted messaging app just rolled out a new feature to let users join a call with just a link — groups no longer required

Wonderful new Signal feature…I can’t recommend Signal enough to everyone.

📩 A new Signal feature may have an outsized impact on your ability to speak securely: call links.

Thanks to new, unique meeting URLs, you no longer have to join a group to start a call.

freedom.press/digisec/blog...

If you are a U.S. based journalist or newsroom and facing risks or safety concerns because of your work, reach out to us for one-to-one consult for holistic safety and security support (physical, digital, psychosocial and legal).

⭐️ Next Wed, 11/29 in Washington, DC: Join TIMEP for another MENA Social Night at Exiles! This quarter's event will support the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).

Reserve your spot here to join us for food, drinks, solidarity, & community: eventbrite.com/e/mena-socia...