Issue: March 19, 2020

Jack Burkman suspended from Twitter after being accused of inciting panic related to coronavirus

Burkman claimed that stores would be closing and that The White House was preparing for food shortages.

Tom Parker

If you’re tired of censorship and surveillance, subscribe to Reclaim The Net.

Twitter has suspended lobbyist Jack Burkman after he claimed that coronavirus-related food shortages were on the horizon.

Jack Burkman was suspended after claiming The White House was preparing for coronavirus-related food shortages

In a series of tweets, Burkman claimed that he had spoken with Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway and that Target and Safeway would be closing because of food shortages.

Burkman also claimed that The White House was preparing for food shortages and that the National Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be distributing meal ready-to-eats (MRE).

Many said the tweets threatened to incite a panic about coronavirus-related food shortages.

In an email to Daily Beast reporter Lachlan Markay, Burkman claimed Twitter had dumped him for “no reason at all.”

https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/1240734495642398725

Burkman’s suspension comes a day after Twitter announced that it would be cracking down on coronavirus tweets and forcing users to remove a wide range of tweets about the virus.

If you’re tired of censorship and surveillance, subscribe to Reclaim The Net.

Read more

Silhouette of a person surrounded by futuristic digital interfaces and HUD elements.

Major Data Broker With US Government as a Client Moves into the Digital ID Market

AI-powered ID verification expands alongside growing concerns about surveillance, data privacy, and predictive crime technologies.

Digital representation of a face with a mesh overlay and glowing points in a city street at night.

Banned But Not Blocked: How Some US Police Departments Navigate Around Facial Recognition Prohibitions

Facial recognition bans are being undermined as police in cities like Austin and San Francisco find loopholes.

A digital artwork of the United States Capitol building at sunset, with reflections in the water below and dark clouds overhead.

Lawmakers Say KOSA Doesn’t Mandate Online Age Verification. It Effectively Does.

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) uses online safety as a pretext for increased control, paving the way for digital ID and threatening privacy.

Abstract digital illustration of a magnifying glass over a user icon with binary code background.

Opt-Out or Be Exposed: Fighting Data Brokers

Data brokers harvest and sell your personal data—from browsing habits to financial details—fueling an unregulated, invasive surveillance economy.

Cell towers on a hill with a digital network overlay at sunset.

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Say They Have a Legal Right To Track You and Sell Your Data

The legal battle raises questions about privacy, corporate accountability, and the boundaries of regulatory power.

Neoclassical building with columns and a triangular pediment, featuring a sculpted figure at the top.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent: How Financial Institutions Quietly Put You Under the Microscope

Even the most routine money moves could land you in a secretive surveillance dragnet, with no explanation and no way out.

Futuristic air fryer with digital display surrounded by colorful glowing lights and abstract geometric patterns.

How Your Air Fryer and Other Household Appliances Became Data Miners

“Smart” gadgets: the convenience you crave, with the surveillance you didn’t ask for.

Abstract digital artwork depicting a bustling city street with a person wearing glasses in the foreground, colorful geometric patterns, and silhouetted figures in the background.

With a Few Tweaks, Meta’s Smart Glasses Can Expose Names, Addresses, and Even Family Details With a Single Glance

From prank-worthy experiments to government-grade surveillance, “cool tech” like Meta’s smart glasses is turning privacy into an endangered species.

Mullvad VPN Review: Fast and Secure With Advanced Privacy Features

Get the lowdown on this private, feature-packed VPN.