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submitted 7 months ago by cm0002@suppo.fi to c/privacy@programming.dev

FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday that he had opened an investigation into the Signal group text chats that Minnesota residents are using to share information about federal immigration agents’ movements, launching a new front in the Trump administration’s conflict there with potential free speech implications.

Patel said in an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that he wanted to know whether any Minnesota residents had put federal agents “in harm’s way” with activities such as sharing agents’ license plate numbers and locations.

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[-] Noite_Etion@lemmy.world 21 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

You cannot create a scenario that illegally entraps and puts law enforcement in harm’s way.

You don't understand - cocks gun - we are the victims here...

[-] Avicenna@programming.dev 19 points 7 months ago

What FBI won't be investigating is citizens unlawfully killed by ICE

[-] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 16 points 7 months ago

Probably the FBI stole someone’s phone, or they’ve joined the chat since the start.

Folks better start doing anti canary trap tactics. Once you shake the feds out, you can start composting.

[-] Mikina@programming.dev 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Is it even possible? I mean, you need to share the chat, and probably have it publicly joinable.

Keeping feds out is basically impossible. Sharing the group only in person could work a bit, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had undercover agents at any major gatherings.

[-] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Anti canary trap tactics? They work. It led to the Russian Revolution & Little Red books.

[-] Mikina@programming.dev 1 points 7 months ago

Ah, TIL. Though I can't really come up with much that would scale well to the modern world where technologies are involved. But that might be only because I'm not thinking local enough, since that's what matters.

However, I'm sure there's an anarchist zine about exactly that.

[-] potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 7 points 7 months ago

We need a robust chat solution that doesn't store your fucking phone number in their database. They can investigate all they want if the software is written well, everyone's too focused on having support for a million stupid features though like stickers and gif library integration

[-] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 10 points 7 months ago
[-] potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

Simplex has a psychotic dev who's trying to pivot the platform to crypto

[-] AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I am depressingly aware.
Forks exist, but Cwtch hasn't gone post quantum encrypted yet.

[-] XLE@piefed.social 1 points 7 months ago

I'm sorry when did this happen

[-] potatopotato@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago
[-] XLE@piefed.social 3 points 7 months ago

I was bracing for something bad, but that is downright ridiculous. NFTs? In 2025? This app is gonna be dead before it even reaches the later stages of enshittification.

[-] can@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Are there any chats they can't investigate at this point?

[-] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

there's no such thing. even if you have a magical app that is impossible to hack/crack, if there are more than 10 people in the chat, assume there's at least one narc

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 4 points 7 months ago

Patel always looks like he's a deer in the headlights. If only that car would speed up a little...

[-] happydoors@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Local spoke about their need to do this and use code names to avoid being followed and harassed by ICE after attending a protest. Probably shouldn’t have done that on a televised city council meeting. But also, Americans have a right to free speech and organized protest. Dark times.

this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2026
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