Monthly Archives: September 2021

How is online gambling different in the US and Canada? – Mtltimes.ca – mtltimes.ca

Posted: September 14, 2021 at 4:41 pm

In short, Canadian nationals are only allowed to play online gambling on online casinos through offshore websites. By contrast, U.S. citizens cant gamble on offshore websites or sportsbooks.

Can you gamble online in Canada? Unfortunately, albeit not explicitly prohibiting this form of gambling, the Canadian government does not issue online casinos or sportsbooks licenses.

Across the border, every state in the U.S. is free to regulate online gambling and sports betting independently. States like New Jersey and Delaware have legalized both online casinos and sportsbooks.

If you are a resident of a state like Oregon, you can legally bet online but not play online casino games. Yet, the third group of states has legalized only certain casino games like poker, roulette, or blackjack.

Single-game sports betting in Canada became legal in August 2021 after the Senate passed the C-218 Bill.

As a next step, the provincial governments are bracing for a legal framework that will pave the way to an open market for online gambling by the end of 2021.Until then, online gambling in Canada will be limited to betting on or playing casino games provided by offshore companies. Youre advised to do a thorough background check of any online gambling operator before signing up to play their games on their site.

South of the Canadian border, every state has been free to regulate online sports betting since 2018.

The following states permit in-person and online sports betting: Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, and Washington D.C. States like Tennessee and New Hampshire only allow mobile gambling.

Finally, it should be noted that while most states prohibit wagering on college games, the Canadians, who bet through overseas servers, do not have such limitations.

Although online gambling is becoming more and more popular in Canada, the Senate is not planning to legalize online casinos within the Canadian borders any sooner.

Even if Canadian gamblers can legally join overseas casinos, these operators must hold a valid license to operate in Canada. The Canadian Senate has only legalized gambling in 88 land-based and 32 online casinos, but they still need to be licensed by the respective provinces.

So, residents of a particular Canadian province should first check if their local government has licensed an overseas online casino before they can play.

If youd like to enjoy the widest variety of online casino games in the United States, you should move to New Jersey, the state with the countrys most extensive online gambling market. It also has the highest number of legal online casinos and poker parlors: 12.

Online casinos, poker websites, and any form of sports betting have been legal in Michigan since Christmas 2019. Michigan thus became the fourth state to legalize all three pillars of online gambling. Online casinos effectively started operations in January 2021.

PA is also an excellent place to wager and play casino games online. Currently, there are 12 licensed web casinos in Pennsylvania offering poker, table games, and slots.

In terms of market share, the top four U.S. online casino operators are DraftKings (16%), SugarHouse-Rivers (16%), Betfair-FanDuel (15%), and ROAR (13%).

It is still challenging for an overseas iGaming operator to obtain a U.S. license. Those who accept this legal challenge opt to start operations in more liberal states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, or Colorado.

Canadians can choose from a myriad of online casinos and sports betting websites offering a wide variety of betting options, from fantasy sports betting to online slots, poker, and roulette.

As there are few regulations in place, many Canada-based online gamblers fall victim to fraudulent operators. Here are some of the largest legal iGaming providers in Canada by province:

Online gamblers in Canada are exempt from taxes on their winnings from online casinos, sportsbooks, lotteries, or any other games of fortune.

These winnings are not regarded as a constant source of income. In addition, the Canadian legislation does not qualify online or land-based gambling as a business.

In most cases, gambling winnings in the U.S. are reported by a Form W-2G and are subject to a flat tax of 24%. The same rate applies to the fair market value of any non-cash prizes like holidays or automobiles.

This post highlighted the key differences between online gambling in the USA and Canada. From the above information, one can conclude that Canada is the better place for online gambling. The laws are very liberal, and everything you win is tax-free.

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Sports Illustrated partners with SharpRank to provide online gambling data – Yogonet International

Posted: at 4:41 pm

L

ast Thursday, Sports Illustrated announced a partnership with SharpRank to rate and rank professional sports gamblers with respect to the industry standard.

The partnership with SharpRank became official as it aligned with Sports Illustrateds first betting-focused print edition magazine and the debut of SI Sportsbook in Colorado, with other states to follow.

SI.com is also blending betting insights for fully integrated SI sports content, gaming, and media with betting widgets, educational betting tools, and free2play games.

The rating agency offers SI bettors and fans data and metrics to validate picks using SharpRanks industry-standard proprietary ranking algorithm, which is cross-sport functional and bet type agnostic.

Bill Enright, Managing Editor at SI Betting and Fantasy, said: We have built an all-star team here, with a talented roster for traditional sports and sports betting-related coverage. The partnership with SharpRank reiterates Sports Illustrateds belief in accountability for the industrys path forward and its positive rippling effects on the market as a whole.

Chris Adams, SharpRank Founder and CEO, commented: Every industry has a SharpRank equivalent. There is not a single industry that operates without a level of independent oversight, its necessary. We serve as that third party market validation in the sports betting world to both the general public looking for credible sources of information and the expert to signal to the market they are just that.

Ross Levinsohn, CEO of Maven, operator of Sports Illustrateds print and digital assets, added: Sports Illustrated is the most trusted brand name in sports, and trust in the gaming space is paramount. The editorial, content, and betting experience will reflect the integrity and ethos that SI has maintained for more than six decades.

Maven recently built the Sports Illustrated Media Group sports vertical to rank #6 across Comscore sports media.

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Online Gambling: How to make it or break it at the reels of slot machines – Techstory

Posted: at 4:41 pm

We all love a good old slot machine, and we always seek the best deals as new online casinos delve into the latest slot games. Of course if higher reward and winning is what you are after, there are some tricks that you can always master. Many online gambling blogs will show you betting strategies, but few will tell you what will make you or break you. Investing in the game is worthwhile, yet not all that is needed for a winning formula to win at slot games.

Many players get caught up in the world of risky gambling, and will keep going even if a solid profit is recorded. Sometimes, when the win is substantial and you make some extra bucks, it is good to walk away. Smiling. Although, if Lady Luck is on your side, you could double that profit, but the possibility is that most of the time, you will walk away empty handed.

There are other strategies that you could apply to make your slot play a worthy one. These comments that we would like to address are common talk amongst the gambling community, Twitch streamers and seasoned players. Ready to make your mark on the slots world? The points below could help you in the way to slot nirvana.

Maximum bet in slot games is when you utilise all the paylines possible and also bet the maximum amount of coins / money that the game allows. It is a wicked game that should only be played strategically. Many slot players advise that the best and only way that you should go for the max bet option is only when you are spinning the reels of a progressive jackpot game. The rest is not worth your time and also your money.

Let us for example mention one of the biggest progressive jackpot games of all times. Microgamings Mega Moolah is a progressive slot game that tops the million dollars / euros. It has a dedicated site and will also show you the winning pots of previous winners. The game is much sought after, meaning the progressive jackpot is always rising. This is the kind of slot machine that you want to invest your maximum bet for. The rest does not matter. If you are ready to take the plunge and invest in a game, make it worth the reel spins.

Keep in mind always that when playing a progressive jackpot online slot, you can only land the biggest prize (the jackpot) when playing at maximum bet. Save the best for last.

How many times have we seen Hollywood movie star faces splashed across slot machines? You will also find that some of our beloved childhood heroes, superheroes, villains and also TV shows now have dedicated slot machines chanting their name. This is what the media, social media and also pop culture does to life in general. You might finish a TV series on Netflix today, and the next thing you know, you find a dedicated slot machine at new casinos.

Truth is, these slot games might be glossy, appealing and also easy on the eye, yet they do not normally pay as well as other slots. With branded slots, you will normally get a lower RTP and also a higher volatility. This means that you will get the big wins, but you will need to spend some bucks on the game to get a big win. In the long run, the return to player investment is just not there.

Ever wondered the reason why branded slots do not pay so well? The license that the game provider would have paid to acquire the rights for the game would be quite high, hence the payout for the player will be limited. If the game provider needs to fork out the money, they will do it on the license. Bottom line, if you want to be smart and also win along the way, branded slots are a game for you to stay away from!

When playing a slot machine there are 2 things that you would need to keep in mind, First and foremost always keep track of the RTP as that will let you know how the slot game will deliver and payout. Another thing to consider is definitely the slot volatility. Some players make the mistake of disregarding the games volatility and that will have a detriment to the winnings if any. So, to answer the question of all questions when it comes to slot games, let us tell you the difference in all the available slot volatilities.

High Volatility When a slot game enjoys a high volatility, this means that winnings will not flood your way, however when you land a win, it will be a good one. Less wins, but big wins is what high volatility stands for.

Medium Volatility Medium volatility is not very popular with game designers and providers and normally would go for either a low or a high volatility. You will get a medium volatility when the game awards average payouts also at an average pace.

Low Volatility Low volatility is a volatility that is very much loved by players and also game providers alike. Playing a low volatility slot game, you will get many wins, but in small portions. Understanding the psyche of a player, this will keep any player, playing as wins come along at a more steady pace.

When choosing a slot game to play, spin and hopefully win at, always make a good choice when it comes to volatility. Using the above definition.

We did touch base with RTP a bit, but lets face it, choosing your best slot game. Just like volatility, RTP plays a big role in the game and the outcome of your play. Many game providers state that a high volatility means that you get a better return on your money. Well, this is not always true, as a high volatility game will not always bring home the money or the winnings. Truth be told, if you are playing a slot machine online, getting more than you have invested in the game is not always feasible.

However, a game that has a higher RTP is normally better paying than a slot game with a lower RTP. But then luck comes in, and we all agree that some of us are much luckier than others. An online slot game RTP is normally found at the bottom of the game, with a small intro to the theme and game specs.

One of the thighs that draws people to a specific casino is fun, ease of the site and of course bonuses. Many online gambling casinos will grant you free spins and also a deposit match when you first sign up to the gaming site. If you are looking for a new online casino to sign up to, we suggest that you look for a 100% deposit match, along with some free spins as bonus to get you all geared up and started.

Bonuses are a big deal in the online gaming world, and to get started off with some free spins is always a bonus. Just keep in mind that you would need to meet wagering requirements that are set up by the online casino, and you would also need to make a deposit to walk away with the winnings. Bonuses are what differentiate one online casino from another, we always suggest that you do your homework wisely, and you also choose wisely too.

If a casino will not give you a good bonus for your 1st deposit, you can be 100% sure that its competition will for sure.

Many new and online casinos will offer you free bonus spins, whilst others will not. It is always a good start to kickstart your relationship with a new casino with some free bonus spins. Hence we always suggest that you sign up to more than 1 casino, and also sign up to the casinos that will see you walk away with free spins on the 1st time that you register with the site.

There are also slot tournaments that will see you compete with other players to get prizes. This is called gamification and sees players combat one another to reach the very top of the chain. If you make it to the top of the pack, you will of course get play money or free spins.

New casinos will always offer better bonuses and prizes to make sure that they lure players and registrations in. As much as the old traditional established casinos might excel in some areas, new casinos are the ones that bring the free spins to the table.

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New York Jets Add WynnBET As Official Sports Betting Partner – NJ Online Gambling

Posted: at 4:41 pm

The New York Jets added to their roster of official sports betting partners Tuesday, announcing a multi-year partnership with WynnBET that includes access to luxury club space and partnerships for podcasts and pre- and post-game shows.

Its the second deal with a sports betting operator this month for the Jets, who also made Fubo Sportsbook an official partner ahead of its expected fourth-quarter launch. The team entered a partnership with MGM Resorts in 2018 that includes both sports wagering (BetMGM) and casino gaming. The Jets also have an online partnership with 888.com.

The centerpiece to the teams newest partnership is the WynnBET Green Room at Met Life Stadium. Ticketholders will have access to the 4,800-square-foot space, which will be open on game days and offer an immersive sportsbook experience in which fans will have access to WynnBET sports betting content.

WynnBET is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking operators in the LSB (legalized sports betting) marketplace, said Jeff Fernandez, Jets vice president of business development and ventures, in a statement. The Wynn name represents a premium brand and overall high touch experience that fits perfectly into the aura of the Green Room. We also expect Jets fans to enjoy the compelling new content on the Jets Podcast Network and benefit from the WynnBET relationship on game day and throughout the entire football season.

On the media side, WynnBET becomes the presenting partner for the Jets SportsNet NY pre- and post-game highlight shows and the teams flagship podcast network. The latter includes The Official Jets Podcast with team reporter Eric Allen and former Jets defensive end Leger Douzable, as well as a new series, Jets Game Preview, with team reporter Ethan Greenberg and NFL Network data analyst Cynthia Frelund.

Photo courtesy of WynnBET

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NOGA Objects To Gambling Ad Rules In The Netherlands – Legal Gambling News

Posted: at 4:41 pm

The legalized online gambling market is set to launch in the Netherlands on October 1, 2021. The gambling regulator and advertising watchdog have rolled out stringent regulations to ensure that there are no loopholes from the start and that players are protected from unscrupulous gambling practices.

One of the areas that have caused contention is over the permitted number of gambling advertisements. The proposed advertising code calls for a max of three online gambling ads during a TV commercial block on the Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS).

One online gambling ad will be permitted in a 3 minute TV commercial block. A max of two gambling ads can run when there is a 3 to 5 minute TV commercial block.

All gambling advertisements will be allowed only after 9 pm. This gambling ad code has received support from the Dutch Lottery and the Holland Casino who played a big role in putting together the advertising code.

The Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA) is not pleased with the 3 gambling ad max proposal for online gambling operators. NOGA claims that that proposal targets online gambling and TV advertising but does not target land based advertising that covers a variety of mediums such a billboards, bus shelters, public transportation and letterboxes.

NOGA points out that customers dont really look at online and offline advertising, they just feel bombarded with gambling ads throughout the day. This is why NOGA is calling on all stakeholders to reach a common agreement on gambling related advertising whether it is online or offline.

NOGA said that if a consensus is not reached between stakeholders, then sooner or later the Netherlands is going to consider the possibility of implementing a blanket ban on all gambling related advertisements. NOGA has been around since 2013 and has a total of 10 members which include top operators such as Flutter, bet365, Betway, Betsson, Kindred and Entain who will also need to add problem gamblers to an exclusion list.

Peter-Paul de Goeij, director for NOGA said they had requested to be a part of the group that drafted the gambling advertising regulations but were not given an invite. NOGA pointed out that by representing 10 of the biggest names in the market, it would have been wiser to get their input before coming up with the advertising draft rules.

As of now, it does not look like there is going to be any change to the gambling advertising rules in the Netherlands despite the protest from NOGA.

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Connecticut Sports Betting To Launch In October – CardPlayer.com

Posted: at 4:41 pm

Sports bettors in Connecticut will likely be able to begin placing wagers on sporting events in October.

According to a report from the Denver Gazette, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe received the go-ahead from the Bureau of Indian Affairs late last week after the agency approved the new gaming compacts that were submitted to them over the summer.

There were reports at the end of August that said sports betting could launch by Sept. 9, in time for the first week of the NFL season. Those reports came after the states Regulation Review Committee passed the markets rules as emergency regulations, which would allow for quicker implementation.

Despite passing the regulations, the state was still waiting on the Department of Interior to pass the amended gaming compacts. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is the smaller agency within the DOI that deals with all tribal affairs.

There was hope that the DOI would pass the compacts in time for the start of the NFL season, but the slight delay from the feds pushed back the launch.

According to a press release from Gov. Ned Lamonts office, the state will now continue [the] licensing process and the review to certify the gaming platforms.

While the press release targeted an October launch for sports betting, it made no mention of the online poker market.

When the two federally recognized tribes agreed to a deal that would allow both the tribes and the Connecticut Lottery to offer sports betting, it was also promised that the tribes would be able to offer online gambling, including poker.

Mashantucket Pequot Tribe chairman Rodney Butler told another media outlet last April that while the tribe wants to offer online poker, it will likely need another state to partner with to make it a viable business option.

Thats not my area of expertise, but I at least now enough that liquidity matters, Butler told PlayCT. We only have 3.5 million people in the state of Connecticut, and how many of those are going to play poker online? So were going to need to have those agreements with either other states or other tribes.

West Virginia, another small state that legalized online poker in 2019, is also trying to secure an interstate partnership before launching its market.

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Commentator Insists That Fact Checking Is An Attack On Free Speech – Techdirt

Posted: at 4:39 pm

from the that's-not-how-this-works dept

There are some really bizarre ideas out there -- and one that has popped up a bunch recently is the idea that fact checking is antithetical to free speech. We've seen a few faux "conservatives" arguing that fact checkers should be regulated and that they're not protected by the 1st Amendment. This is wrong of course. Fact checking is (1) speech, and (2) stating an opinion on the veracity of some other content. It's quintessential protected opinion.

But, the most bizarrely stupid version of this argument was published recently in the Hill, by columnist Armstrong Williams, in a piece entitled: Uninhibited Speech is the Ultimate Weapon in the Fight Against Misinformation. You might think from this title that he would support fact checking -- which is part of that "uninhabited speech." Instead, he seems to think it's an infringement on rights.

For too long, Big Tech has controlled what we say by imprinting into the minds of the masses a certain worldview. Big Tech has silenced dissenters, making those who dare to disagree with them outcasts. The fact-checkers, both manual and automated systems, review social media posts and censor them when they determine a post to be false or misleading. The very notion that a company would hire someone to fact-check private speech is outrageous. We should not tolerate lies, but it is not the job of a powerful few to label something as a lie; it is the job of the content consumer to do so. Giving a few entities the power to brand people as liars gives them disproportionate power to determine truth by labeling some lies as fake news but not others, according to their agenda.

So... we should have uninhibited free speech... unless that speech is coming from a big tech company? Because that's no longer uninhibited.

Now, there is a legitimate point buried amidst all the muck here, noting that just because someone has done a "fact check" on a piece of content, does not necessarily mean that the fact check is accurate. But a fact check is, undeniably part of the "more speech" approach. Williams isn't mad about "fact checking." He's mad that he doesn't agree with the results of these fact checks. Indeed, he could have made a stronger point if he had argued not against fact checking (which is clearly speech), but what is then done with the results of those fact checks (though, again, moderation decisions by private companies are also protected expression). Either way, when you get to the crux of his argument, it's that companies who fact check don't deserve any free speech rights to do so.

Did we need fact-checkers to end the idea that slavery was natural, as Aristotle said? Did we need fact-checkers to guide our Founding Fathers hands in writing the Constitution? No, what we needed was the natural, unfiltered flow of ideas from one person to another.

And... some of that "natural, unfiltered flow of ideas" is someone fact checking the content. That's how the marketplace of ideas works. You can criticize the fact checkers and the end result of their fact checks. That's reasonable. Fact checkers often get stuff wrong. But to argue that their speech somehow impinges on someone's speech is nonsense.

It's really funny how much he wants to silence speech in favor of letting speech flow if he likes that speech. I mean, this paragraph is just pure nonsense:

Rational thought spread like wildfire without the need of social media, and irrational thought died with the few patrons who consumed it. The world was changed by the thoughts of a few ordinary people who dared to think. Of course, people disagreed, and some even became violent, but a persons right to open his mouth and unleash volumes of unique ideas upon his neighbors should not be stifled by the vitriol that their thoughts create.

Apparently, a person's right to open his mouth should not be stifled unless that person is fact checking.

Does Williams have no principles at all?

Labels make it easy to destroy people. They shift burdens of proof to the party being labeled, making it impossible to peel away the label one is given.

Labels are speech, dude. If you disagree, you should speak up and explain why the label is incorrect, misleading or inappropriate. That is uninhibited speech. But fact checking and labels (and moderation decisions) are all speech in themselves.

We should all continue to express our thoughts honestly, unfiltered and uninhibited.

Unless you're a fact checker or someone who labels people in a way that Armstrong Williams does not like?

Every person should conduct his or her own research to determine whether something someone says appears to be true.

Again, unless you're a fact checker or someone who labels people in a way that Amstrong Williams does not like?

Each of us must consider the facts, connect the dots, and come to our own conclusions.

And, a fact checker is part of that discussion. No one says you have to believe everything a fact checker says.

Sure, we might get it wrong; everyone does that sometimes because we are human. But right always prevails over wrong, the truth overcomes fallacies, and good triumphs over evil.

Apparently, Williams believes this applies to everyone... except fact checkers.

What a bunch of censorial garbage.

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Filed Under: armstrong williams, fact checking, free speech, more speech, social mediaCompanies: facebook, twitter

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Loudoun Co. School Board to codify free speech after courts overturn teacher suspension – WTOP

Posted: at 4:39 pm

After the Virginia Supreme Court's upheld the reinstatement of teacher Tanner Cross, the Loudoun County School Board is set to vote on a revised policy of professional conduct.

WTOP's Neal Augenstein reports that the Loudoun County School Board is set to revise its policy on professional conduct.

In the wake of court rulings overturning the suspension of physical education teacher Tanner Cross, the Loudoun County School Board is set to vote on a revised professional conduct policy for public school employees.

On Aug. 30, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled the board failed to prove a lower court abused its discretion in ordering the reinstatement of Cross, who was put on administrative leave after criticizing a then-proposed transgender policy.

The draft policy, which the board is scheduled to vote on Tuesday evening, would specify that school employees have the First Amendment right to engage in protected speech in their free time, but also reinforces the expectation that employees support the school systems equity and nondiscrimination practices.

Cross told the countys school boardthat the use of preferred gender pronouns for transgender students was against his religion during a board meeting in May.

Also in August, the school board voted to pass a measure that would expand the rights of transgender students in the countys schools.

Cross filed a civil lawsuit, seeking to stop the policy from going into effect. Two other teachers are seeking to join the suit.

In a section labeled protected speech, employees are reminded they are in a position of public trust.

However, nothing in this policy or any other policy shall be interpreted as abridging an employees First Amendment right to engage in protected speech or their right to a private life outside their work responsibilities except as provided by law.

Circuit Court Judge James Plowman had ruled Crosss statements were made on his own time in a public meeting, rather on than a classroom, and that the suspension violated his free speech rights. Virginias Supreme Court upheld Plowmans ruling.

The draft policy also includes a section called Commitment to Equitable Treatment, which says the school system rejects behavior and language that denigrates or demeans people of protected classes, and that such behavior encourages discrimination, hatred, oppression, and violence.

While not referring to the preferred-pronoun issue in Crosss lawsuit, the draft policy specifies in-school actions: Employees are expected to support the school divisions commitment to action-oriented equity and nondiscrimination practices, through the performance of their job duties in order to promote respect, professionalism, civility and inclusivity for all persons.

The boards Human Resources and Talent Development Committee of the School Board had voted 3-0 to send the recommended policy to the full board for approval.

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Can Roe v. Wade Be Saved By Altering The Supreme Court? – Free Speech TV

Posted: at 4:39 pm

Roe v. Wade: Can Adding Seats to the Supreme Court Save America? SCOTUS letting TX's 6-week abortion law stand is very likely the beginning of the chain reaction that could gut Roe v. Wade as we know it.

How should America respond to the latest actions in Texas on Roe vs Wade? The Supreme Court wants to overturn the decision. How will this all work out?

Meagan Hatcher-Mays joins Thom Hartmann to discuss the possible expansion of the Supreme Court.

--

The Thom Hartmann Program covers diverse topics including immigration reform, government intrusion, privacy, foreign policy, and domestic issues. More people listen to or watch the TH program than any other progressive talk show in the world! Join them. #MorefromThom

The Thom Hartmann Program is on Free Speech TV every weekday from 12-3 pm EST.

Missed an episode? Check out Thom Hartmann Playlist on our Youtube channel or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change.

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling and online at freespeech.org

Abortion Pro-Choice Right To Choose Roe V. Wade Supreme Court Texas The Thom Hartmann Program Thom Hartmann

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Geofence Warrants Threaten Civil Liberties and Free Speech Rights in Kenosha and Nationwide – EFF

Posted: at 4:39 pm

In the days following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on August 23, 2020, hundreds of protestors marched in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Federal law enforcement, it turns out, collected location data on many of those protesters. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) used a series of geofence warrants to force Google to hand over data on people who were in the vicinity ofbut potentially as far as a football field away fromproperty damage incidents. These warrants, which police are increasingly using across the country, threaten the right to protest and violate the Fourth Amendment.

Geofence warrants require companies to provide information on every electronic device in a geographical area during a given time period. ATF used at least 12 geofence warrants issued to Googlethe only company known to provide data in response to these warrantsto collect peoples location data during the Kenosha protests. The center of each geographic area was a suspected arson incident. However, the warrants reach broadly and require location data for long periods of time. One of the warrants encompassed a third of a major public park for a two-hour window during the protests. The ATF effectively threw a surveillance dragnet over many protesters, using general warrants that violate the Fourth Amendment and threaten the First Amendment right to protest free from government spying.

Police can use geofence warrants to collect information on and movements of innocent people at protests. This can include device information, account information, email addresses, phone numbers, and information on Google services used by the device owner, and the data can come from both Android and Apple devices. Someone who goes to a protest and happens to be nearby when a crime occurs may get caught up in a police investigation. Police in Minneapolis, for example, used a geofence warrant during the protests over the killing of George Floyd. The public only learned about it because the dragnet, centered around a property damage incident, caught an innocent bystander filming the protests, and Google notified him (which it doesnt always do). The police can also use this data to create dossiers on activists and organizers.

In this way, geofence warrants also eliminate anonymity that people may rely on in order to protest or otherwise freely associate in public spaces. Law enforcements ability to catalogue the location of peaceful protestors will chill their exercise of their First Amendment rights. This is especially problematic when, as with the August 2020 protests in Kenosha, people are taking to the streets to hold the police themselves accountable.

Google recently published data showing that police have issued at least 20,000 warrants, just over the last three years, and the sheer volume of these warrants is increasing exponentially year over year. For example, California issued 209 geofence warrant requests in 2018, but in 2020, it issued nearly 2,000. Each warrant may result in the disclosure of information on tens or hundreds of devices. The vast majority of these warrants are issued by state and local police, which makes them difficult to track.

Google must start standing up for its users against this massive overreach. In addition to serious harms to privacy and free expression, geofence warrants operate without transparency. After years of pressure, Google has finally provided some limited data. But the vast majority of geofence warrants remain sealed, with no information from Google or law enforcement on their targets, geographic area and length of time, and their purported justifications. As a result, most people have no way of knowing whether they are caught up in one of these dragnets. Such uncertainty further chills the constitutional rights to freely protest and associate.

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Geofence Warrants Threaten Civil Liberties and Free Speech Rights in Kenosha and Nationwide - EFF

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