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20 year old Santa Clara college student and American citizen Yasir Afifi found an FBI tracking device under his car. He showed the device to his roommates who posted a picture of the device online asking if it meant "the FBI is after us"?
Two days later, Afifi - who is half-Egyptian - got a knock in his door by 6 FBI agents asking for their device back. They spoke to Afifi for a few minutes, making it clear they had been following him for a while. "We have all the information we needed," they told him as they left. "You don't need to call your lawyer. Don't worry, you're boring. "
This kind of tracking is more common than you'd think, in fact, it's perfectly legal thanks to a recent ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals saying it's legal for law enforcement to secretly place a tracking device on a suspect's car without getting a warrant, even if the car is parked in a private driveway.
Afifi was contacted by the ACLU who had been looking for the perfect case to use as a challenge to the the tracking ruling.
"This is the kind of thing we like to throw lawyers at," Afifi said the ACLU's Brian Alseth told him.
"It seems very frightening that the FBI have placed a surveillance-tracking device on the car of a 20-year-old American citizen who has done nothing more than being half-Egyptian," Alseth told Wired.com
Two days later, Afifi - who is half-Egyptian - got a knock in his door by 6 FBI agents asking for their device back. They spoke to Afifi for a few minutes, making it clear they had been following him for a while. "We have all the information we needed," they told him as they left. "You don't need to call your lawyer. Don't worry, you're boring. "
This kind of tracking is more common than you'd think, in fact, it's perfectly legal thanks to a recent ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals saying it's legal for law enforcement to secretly place a tracking device on a suspect's car without getting a warrant, even if the car is parked in a private driveway.
Afifi was contacted by the ACLU who had been looking for the perfect case to use as a challenge to the the tracking ruling.
"This is the kind of thing we like to throw lawyers at," Afifi said the ACLU's Brian Alseth told him.
"It seems very frightening that the FBI have placed a surveillance-tracking device on the car of a 20-year-old American citizen who has done nothing more than being half-Egyptian," Alseth told Wired.com
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20-Year-Old University Student Finds FBI Tracking Device Under Car In a remarkable incident that raised significant privacy concerns, Yasir Afifi, a 20-year-old Santa Clara college student and American citizen, discovered a tracking device placed under his car by the FBI. Initially bewildered, Afifi showed the device to his roommates, who humorously questioned on social media whether "the FBI is after us." Two days later, the situation escalated when six FBI agents knocked on Afifi's door, demanding the return of their tracking device. During their brief conversation, the agents revealed they had been monitoring his activities for some time, stating, “We have all the information we needed.” They reassured him not to worry, claiming, “You’re boring,” which raises questions about the nature of their surveillance. The legality of such tracking is backed by a recent ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which determined that law enforcement can secretly place tracking devices on a suspect's vehicle without obtaining a warrant, even if the vehicle is parked in a private area. This legal backdrop has spurred organizations like the ACLU to explore potential challenges, with Afifi's case being seen as a prime opportunity. Brian Alseth from the ACLU remarked on the chilling implications of the FBI's actions: “It seems very frightening that the FBI have placed a surveillance-tracking device on the car of a 20-year-old American citizen who has done nothing more than being half-Egyptian.” This statement highlights the growing concerns about surveillance practices and the impact on citizens’ rights in the digital age. This incident not only raises alarms about privacy and civil liberties but also ignites discussions about the ethical implications of surveillance in contemporary society. As technology evolves, so too does the conversation about balancing security and individual rights. Discussion Invitation: Have you heard of similar incidents? What are your thoughts on the legality of such surveillance practices? Share your opinions or experiences in the comments below!