this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2025
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Privacy

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Five hours after Charlie Kirk was shot this week, an Atlanta man got a phone call from an Illinois police officer asking about a photo he shared with a couple of close friends on a private Discord chat. The Atlanta man, who asked not to be identified, says the post was merely a confirmation that he had purchased the same T-shirt that the accused killer wore (from an Illinois-based online shop).

Social media companies are generally forbidden by law from divulging users’ private communications to the government without a traditional legal process (e.g., court order). But there’s an exception: in perceived emergencies, social media platforms can proactively and “voluntarily” hand over private messages in response to what’s called an “emergency disclosure request” (EDR).

Discord, I am told, did not respond to any EDR here; but when I asked them directly if they’d provided law enforcement with information to traditional legal process, they declined to respond on-record.

The FBI, or the intelligence community, evidently is monitoring Discord private messaging, even from people who have broken no law.

Full blown Orwellian world. Run for local government and stop this shit.

The largest populated areas are left leaning. If they ae controlled by democratic socialist, we can restrict this shit. Just by pure numbers.

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[–] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 131 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

not a single person gives a shit about charlie kirk; the whole crackdown is because politicians got a glimpse ofhow people will react when they die and they don't like it.

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 53 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

They don't give a shit about that either. Trump has been trying to goat people into violence and he final got his wish (possibly by his own people). They are seizing on that. That is why he moved the national guard into memphis TN. He wants marshall law to hold power forever.

Edit: spelling

[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 38 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

Edit: spelling

Since we're making corrections, the word is "goad," not "goat." You try to "goad" people into behavior or choices they wouldn't normally make.

I try not to correct people much anymore if their message is still pretty obvious. I realized that offering too many corrections could cause people to post less, and I didn't want to be the cause of that. But the fact that you were already willing to edit goaded me into suggesting another correction.

[–] MalReynolds@piefed.social 26 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Also it's martial, not marshal, which is reasonably important as martial means pertaining to war, i.e. the army running things.

[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I figured someone else would get that one. Other lemmings don't seem to love it when I jokingly ask "who's Marsha Law?"

[–] grue@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

Other lemmings don’t seem to love it when I jokingly ask “who’s Marsha Law?”

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[–] Hector@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Really got your goad there didn't it?

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[–] Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I know spite can add a lot of years to odious tyrants, but sooner or later...

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 2 weeks ago

They all end the same way.

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[–] nfreak@lemmy.ml 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A dead nazi is funny but at the end of the day they're just another dead nazi. Now when Hitler or Goebbels eats shit, that's a call for celebration.

[–] marcela@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 2 weeks ago

Todays news outlets if sent back to 1945: Underrated painter shot in the head by maniacal racist in Berlin. German outrage over frantic celebrations across Europe.

[–] ExtremeDullard@piefed.social 56 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

I saw this coming in 1999 when Scott McNealy inadvertantly spilled the beans on what his hateful industry was up to, and I have been extremely cautious about what I've been posting ever since. People have called me a paranoid crackpot for decades. I guess I hate to tell you I told you so...

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 39 points 2 weeks ago

De-google and open source has been my push this year. I'm not the most knowledgeable but I don't trust these companies.

I stopped using social media for almost 20 years. Only anonymous chats like this are used. Everything goes through a VPN and I always think that someone else is reading my stuff.

9-11 put us on this track with no restrictions.

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[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 44 points 2 weeks ago (9 children)

Using this to try to get more people off of discord.

Also not privacy related, but fuck substack

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ken Klippenstein has done amazing work and broke multiple stories.

This is not a smear against discord but a reveal of how the government is operating. If you don't think it is a privacy issue then you don't know what privacy is. Being a fan boy doesn't change what is happening.

Use discord all you want but your point is baseless about the story.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Apologies, I wasn't criticizing the article, or you for sharing it. It's a tricky sentence, especially if English isn't your first language - the "but" changes the subject. Article is definitely privacy related.

What isn't privacy related is my opinion about subtack. I don't mean to derail, so will let anyone reading this look up why ss sucks and make their own decision.

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Gotcha. SS has a troubling history. One could argue journalist have a open door policy.

How do you say one is a journalist while another isn't? Today, anyone can be a journalist and a lot of traditional journalist are doing their own thing.

Even credible outlets are changing. The New Your Times was considered top tier but now..... lord have mercy. Billionaires are buying up and interfering with the companies. And then we have private equity firms, the lice found on the flies that eat shit.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Yes, I wonder what journalists ("professional" and otherwise) are supposed to do. Everyone going their own way and splintering off into many little voices doesn't feel like the right answer, but publishers are beholden to investors and can be bought out by billionaires. I suppose there are publishers/agencies that have maintained their integrity like 404 Media, or Al Jazeera.

Maybe this is just the burden of anyone in a democracy: to constantly weigh the quality of the sources of information you're using to form opinions which spawn action.

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Critical thinking is a invaluable tool that ia slowly being lost to drone mentality. That is how democracy dies.

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[–] Kaliax@lemmy.world 39 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Snowden told us about these type of IC capabilities 12 years ago. We are cooked, y'all. Cooked.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 20 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

I think you missed his conclusion.

We have tools that they can't penetrate. Privacy is a right. We're not cooked.

[–] Kaliax@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Lol, okay. As the vast majority of people have no clue and no interest in utilizing those tools. No interest in understanding threat vectors and cryptography. Cooked was a bit glibb, but the general "we", I do not see your optimism.

"Privacy is a right"... sure, so is healthcare and shelter... I am sure those policies are going global really soon.

[–] SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

As the vast majority of people have no clue and no interest in utilizing those tools.

I can't agree more. A few family members got really paranoid about their communications being monitored after Trump was elected again, so I offered to show them Signal or Element. Nah, no interest, "too hard". They still text even with the fucking US government itself warning people it's a very insecure medium.

I'm hoping that disinterest changes after a few people get locked up based on social media PMs, but don't have all that much hope.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

After the ICE raids started, I had a lot of people reach out to me. I've given trainings and lots of people switched to more secure systems.

There is an increased appetite in many oppressed groups for this. Don't try to force it. Be open and ready to train those who are eager.

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[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago

We're probably burnt at this point.

[–] reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net 28 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Exactly what Charlie Kirk would want! More censorship!

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 2 weeks ago

Sad fact that we live in a world that his death accomplished more then his life. We all knew he was a Trump asset but I never thought it would be like this.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 25 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

so an illinois policeman called a guy in atlanta around a convo about a thing that happened in utah??? That policeman should be investigated.

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 2 weeks ago

Makes sense if you don't think about it.

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[–] herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml 23 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

As a Turkish citizen, this gives me a sense of deja-vu. America is going through the same crackdowns on freedoms we experienced 25 years ago.

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[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

You may as well assume that anything done on public social media is being read, searched and filtered in real-time by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Given the trajectory of this administration in persecuting people for their political affiliation, dumping commercial social media should be an imperative for everyone who isn't goose stepping.

[–] hansolo@lemmy.today 18 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's been the case for 10 years. Unless it's e2ee, it's public record and can be tied to your real name with a minimal amount of paperwork.

Before I comment anything anywhere, I imagine it being read in a court room in a monotone voice. Bip bop dippity dop, the judge in this case is a swell person and I hope they have a lovely day!

[–] Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Well they will have to read a lot of my erotic zelda/link fan fiction.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Sounds like a CSAM case for a motivated partisan prosecutor.

People break the law, as it is written, way more than they think. Selective enforcement to target political rival groups is very much in the playbook here.

It is less safe to speak in public today than it was 2 years ago, and it is only getting worse. Protecting your privacy also means protecting yourself from mob justice when they decide you're the new target group.

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[–] ksigley@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago
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[–] viewports@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I really do worry tools like whatever the naperville pd using here are going result in a lot of damage and upturned lives once their use becomes more casual, like god knows what's going to happen with the president declaring random political views terrorism

no real court orders were involved, the article mentions a EDR wasn't invoked, no push back from discord over what sounds like some sort of dump or access to all images uploaded to the service

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[–] baxster@sopuli.xyz 12 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Socialist Democrates whant's to destroy e2ee in sweden to both parties is anti encryption and pro mass surveillance. They are fighting against eachother of "who can introduce most surveillance and police state laws first"

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Liberals always try to prepare everything the Fascists need to do Fascism when the Fascists get elected (with help from the liberals)

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[–] DieserTypMatthias@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I'm fortunately not American.

Guns should be regulated anyway.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 7 points 2 weeks ago (29 children)

How else can we stop people like Kirk and Trump?

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