‘Happy Gilmore’ Producer Buys Spyware Maker NSO Group
Plus: US government cybersecurity staffers get reassigned to do immigration work, a hack exposes sensitive age-verification data of Discord users, and more.
Security / National Security
ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team
Documents show ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.
DHS Has Been Collecting US Citizens’ DNA for Years
Newly released data shows Customs and Border Protection funneled the DNA of nearly 2,000 US citizens—some as young as 14—into an FBI crime database, raising alarms about oversight and legality.
These Are the 15 New York Officials ICE and NYPD Arrested in Manhattan
More than a dozen elected officials were arrested in or around 26 Federal Plaza in New York City, where ICE detains people in what courts have ruled are unsanitary conditions.
A DHS Data Hub Exposed Sensitive Intel to Thousands of Unauthorized Users
A misconfigured platform used by the Department of Homeland Security left national security information—including some related to the surveillance of Americans—accessible to thousands of people.
Cindy Cohn Is Leaving the EFF, but Not the Fight for Digital Rights
After 25 years at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Cindy Cohn is stepping down as executive director. In a WIRED interview, she reflects on encryption, AI, and why she’s not ready to quit the battle.
Defense Department Scrambles to Pretend It’s Called the War Department
President Donald Trump said the so-called Department of War branding is to counter the “woke” Department of Defense name.
US Congressman’s Brother Lands No-Bid Contract to Train DHS Snipers
DHS says retired Marine sniper Dan LaLota’s firm is uniquely qualified to meet the government’s needs. LaLota tells WIRED his brother, GOP congressman Nick LaLota, played no role in the contract.
No, Trump Can’t Legally Federalize US Elections
The United States Constitution is clear: President Donald Trump can’t take control of the country’s elections. But he can sow confusion and fear.
The Mysterious Shortwave Radio Station Stoking US-Russia Nuclear Fears
A popular shortwave Russian radio station dubbed “UVB-76” has been an enigma for decades. But its recent messages have turned it into a tool for Kremlin saber-rattling.