US Border Patrol Is Spying on Millions of American Drivers

The US Border Patrol has been operating a surveillance program that tracks millions of American drivers, raising serious concerns about the government's invasion of citizens' personal space. The program uses a network of covert license-plate readers to monitor traffic and flag "suspicious" routes, often leading to traffic stops for minor infractions.

According to internal group chats obtained through public records requests, Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement share data on US citizens in real-time, including hotel records, rental car status, home addresses, and social media details. This information is used to coordinate "whisper stops" that obscure federal involvement, effectively allowing the agency to target drivers without probable cause.

The scale of this program raises significant Fourth Amendment concerns, with civil liberties experts labeling it a "dragnet" that tracks Americans' movements, associations, and daily routines. The program has been criticized for its chilling effect on free speech and assembly, as it can be used to monitor the activities of advocacy groups and community organizations.

Meanwhile, another major cyberattack was successfully foiled by Microsoft's cloud security system. In October, a massive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack launched against a single Azure endpoint in Australia overwhelmed the network with 15.72 Tbps and 3.64 billion packets per second. The attack originated from the Aisuru botnet, an IoT network of compromised home routers, cameras, and other consumer devices.

In another development, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped its remaining claims against SolarWinds and its CISO over a historic 2020 hack. Russian SVR operatives allegedly compromised SolarWinds' Orion software, triggering widespread breaches across government and industry.

Lastly, the FBI accessed messages from a private Signal group used by New York immigration court-watch activists without clear justification, labeling them as "anarchist violent extremist actors." The documents obtained by the government-transparency group Property of the People describe activists discussing how to enter courtrooms, film officers, and gather identifying details of federal personnel. Civil liberties experts warn that this surveillance mirrors earlier FBI campaigns targeting lawful dissent and risks chilling protected political activity.

I'm really skeptical about this US Border Patrol program . Tracking millions of American drivers with covert license-plate readers just seems like a huge invasion of personal space, you know? I mean, what's next? They're gonna start monitoring our Google searches too . And the fact that they're sharing data with local law enforcement in real-time is just chilling. It's like they're trying to create this whole " dragnet" effect, where everyone's being watched and monitored without probable cause .

And what about all these whistle-blower revelations? Group chats between agents and cops sharing info on US citizens... it's just crazy. How can we trust that this stuff isn't being used to target certain groups or individuals unfairly? I don't think the Fourth Amendment protects us from this kind of blanket surveillance, you know? We need some serious oversight and regulation here .

But hey, at least Microsoft was able to stop that massive cyberattack . And SolarWinds getting off scot-free is a good thing too... but let's not forget about all the other companies being compromised by Russian SVR operatives .

And don't even get me started on the FBI snooping around private Signal groups . I mean, come on, can we at least trust that our own government is respecting our right to free speech and assembly?

what's going on with our governments?? the US Border Patrol is literally spying on their own citizens like they're in a bad spy movie. It's all about control and keeping people in line, but at what cost to our freedom of movement? I mean, who needs that kind of monitoring in their daily life? And those covert license-plate readers are just too sneaky

And then there's the cyberattack situation - Microsoft saved the day (again) by foiling a massive DDoS attack . But what about all the other vulnerabilities out there that we can't even see? It's like, how do we even protect ourselves from these kinds of threats when our governments are too busy spying on us?

The whole SolarWinds thing is still super suspicious to me . I mean, how did Russian operatives manage to get into their systems without anyone noticing? And what about the impact on all those affected by the breach? It's just another example of how we need better cybersecurity measures in place .

And have you guys seen the latest news about the FBI snooping around private Signal groups? that's just chilling. As if we didn't already feel like we were living in a dystopian novel...

Ugh, can you believe it ? They're literally watching us all! I mean, I've always thought the gov was up to something shady, but this is just crazy. Tracking our movements, associating with others... what's next? They'll be monitoring our every online move too . And those "whisper stops" are just a way for them to silence us, to keep us from speaking out against their policies.

And don't even get me started on the cyberattacks and surveillance. It's like they're trying to control everything! I mean, Microsoft saved the day this time, but what about all the other times? And SolarWinds getting hacked... that's just a recipe for disaster.

I'm telling you, it's all connected . They're using these programs to keep us in line, to keep us from questioning their authority. It's like they're creating this giant surveillance state and we're just sitting ducks . We need to wake up, folks! We can't let them get away with this...

I'm literally shook by this news! The thought of the US Border Patrol tracking our every move, from hotel records to social media details, is just insane . It's like we're living in a dystopian movie . And to make matters worse, they're doing it without probable cause . I mean, what's next? Are we going to be stopped for just breathing in the wrong neighborhood?

And can we talk about the cyberattacks? Microsoft is like a superhero saving the day with their cloud security system! But at the same time, it's scary to think that our devices are vulnerable to attacks from compromised home routers and cameras . And on top of all this, the FBI accessing messages from a private Signal group without clear justification? That's just wrong .

I'm so grateful for organizations like Property of the People who are fighting for transparency and accountability . We need to stay vigilant and protect our civil liberties !

I'm really worried about this whole surveillance program thing... like what's the point of monitoring every single American driver? It just feels like a slippery slope, you know? Next thing you know, they'll be tracking our online searches too . The Fourth Amendment is in place for a reason - to protect our right to privacy and freedom from unreasonable searches. I think we need to have some serious conversations about what's acceptable and what's not when it comes to government surveillance . And let's not forget, this kind of behavior can have major chilling effects on free speech and assembly...

I'm getting a bad vibe from all these news stories . First off, the US Border Patrol's surveillance program is just plain creepy . I get that national security is important, but do we really need to track every single American driver? It feels like they're more interested in monitoring our habits than actual threats . And what's up with sharing data with local law enforcement? That's some serious Big Brother stuff .

And on the tech side, I'm all for cybersecurity measures , but do we really need to be tracking every home router and camera ? The Aisuru botnet attack was a wake-up call, but is this just a slippery slope towards more surveillance?

Lastly, the FBI's actions towards activist groups are super sketchy . I get that they're trying to protect national security, but do we need to surveil private messages from law-abiding citizens? It feels like they're more interested in silencing dissent than actually addressing real threats .

Overall, these stories just make me think we need to be way more careful about how we balance national security with personal freedoms .

I'm getting really creeped out about this US Border Patrol program . Like, I get it, national security is a thing, but do they really need to track every single American driver's movement? It feels like Big Brother is watching us all the time... and who decides what's "suspicious" anyway? It's not just about keeping our country safe, it's also about respecting our right to freedom of movement.

And don't even get me started on this sharing of data between agents and law enforcement agencies . If there's a problem with one person's behavior, why do we need to know every single detail about them? It feels like they're building some kind of database on us all.

I'm not saying it's all bad, I guess Microsoft did save the day from that cyberattack , but these surveillance programs are just so invasive. We need to be careful about who has access to our personal info and how they use it.

omg this is so concerning!!! i mean i get it we need to keep our country safe but this feels like a whole different level of invasive how are they just sharing data on ppl's hotel stays and rental cars without proper cause? that's some major 1984 vibes and what about the chilling effect on free speech and assembly? i know they're trying to stop terrorist attacks but it sounds like they're just using this as an excuse to spy on anyone who's vocal about certain issues we need more transparency and accountability here!

omg I just saw this article about the US Border Patrol's surveillance program and I'm like seriously what is going on?! They're literally tracking every single American driver, it's so creepy. I mean I get that national security is important but can't they do it without spying on us all? I've had my car stopped by police before for no reason at all, can you imagine if the Border Patrol did that too? it would be super scary.

and while I'm here, have you guys seen those cybersecurity news stories lately? like, what's going on with these cyberattacks and hacking incidents. I mean I use cloud services too but I don't think my home router is capable of launching a massive DDoS attack lol.

btw did you hear about the SolarWinds hack last year? that was super weird. And now it seems like the FBI is spying on activists again... what's going on with our government's relationship with tech companies?

This is getting crazy ... I mean, what's next? The government gonna track our Alexa usage too ? I'm not sure if the scale of this program is just an overreach or a slippery slope to total surveillance state. I remember when my parents were young, they used to talk about how it was bad enough that Nixon had his enemies list . Now it feels like we're living in a George Orwell novel ... and not in a good way . I'm all for keeping the country safe, but this is just ridiculous. And what's up with these "whisper stops"? Sounds like something out of a bad cop show . Can't we just have our basic freedoms back without all these fancy surveillance tools?

Yooo , can't believe our gov's getting caught up in this mass surveillance stuff again... like, what's next? They're gonna start reading our emails too . I'm all for keeping the country safe but come on, we gotta have some boundaries here... like, personal space is a thing . And now they're talking about sharing data with local law enforcement and sharing hotel records? That's just creepy . We need to get some transparency around this program and make sure it's not being used to silence activists or stifle free speech .

THIS IS SO WILD!!! THE US GOVERNMENT THINKS IT CAN JUST TRACK EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN WITHOUT A REASON??? IT'S LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY OUR 4TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS!!! I MEAN, COME ON, WE NEED SOME PRIVACY IN THIS COUNTRY!!! AND THOSE BORDER PATROL AGENTS SHARING DATA WITH LOCAL LEADERS? THAT'S JUST CRAZY TALK!!! IT'S LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A BIG BROTHER-LIKE SITUATION WHERE EVERY MOVEMENT, ASSOCIATION, IS BEING MONITORED!!! I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS AND DEMAND SOME TRANSPARENCY FROM OUR LEADERS!!!

OMG I'm literally SHOOK by this news!!! The US Border Patrol's surveillance program is straight out of a dystopian movie ! Tracking down millions of American drivers without probable cause is just not right , it's like they're assuming everyone's guilty until proven innocent. And sharing data on hotel records and social media details? That's some serious Big Brother vibes . I'm all for keeping our country safe, but this feels way too invasive .

And can we talk about the cyberattack that was foiled by Microsoft's cloud security system? 15.72 Tbps and 3.64 billion packets per second? That's like trying to stop a speeding bullet ! And what about the SolarWinds hack? Russian operatives, huh?

But you know what really gets me is the FBI's surveillance on immigration court-watch activists . I mean, they're just trying to make a difference and document police misconduct . The government shouldn't be policing people for speaking out against injustice . It's like, hello, protected speech is still a thing in America !

I'm worried about where we're heading with all this surveillance. I mean, I get it, security is important, but tracking every single American driver? That's just creepy . And the fact that they're sharing data with local law enforcement? That's a whole different level of Big Brother . But at the same time, I'm not sure how much more security we need when we've got cyber attacks coming from all directions... like that massive DDoS attack last month . And then there's SolarWinds and the FBI accessing private messages without justification? That just feels wrong . Can't we find a way to balance security with our civil liberties? I guess it's all about finding that middle ground . We need to make sure we're not sacrificing too much of our freedom for the sake of safety .

man this is so messed up ... i mean like the US Border Patrol is literally tracking ppl's every move without a warrant or any real reason why... its like they're always watching us, you know? and then to make matters worse, they're sharing that info with local law enforcement which is just insane . its like we're living in a bad movie or something... i'm all for keeping the country safe but come on, can't they find other ways to do it without infringing on our civil liberties? and whats up with Microsoft foiling that cyberattack tho? that's some top-notch security right there ... btw did u hear about the FBI snooping on ppl who were just advocating for immigration rights? that's straight up scary .

This is a major red flag, folks! The fact that our government is tracking millions of American drivers without probable cause is just plain unsettling. I mean, what's next? We're already living in a world where Big Brother is watching us, but this takes it to a whole new level.

I'm not sure how many people are aware of the extent of this program, but let me tell you - it's huge. They've got these license plate readers all over the place, and they're sharing data with local law enforcement in real-time. That means that if your friend gets pulled over for a minor infraction, the cops can now look up their hotel record, rental car status, home address... the works!

And don't even get me started on the Fourth Amendment concerns. This program is basically a "dragnet" that's tracking our movements, associations, and daily routines without any oversight. It's like they're trying to create a surveillance state, and I'm not sure where we stand on that as a society.

Now, before you start thinking this only affects certain groups or individuals, let me tell you - it doesn't. If you're an advocate for social justice, a community organizer, or just someone who likes to speak out against the system, you could be targeted by this program too.

It's time for us to take a hard look at our government and ask ourselves if we're comfortable with being tracked and monitored in such a way. I'm not saying there aren't any threats out there - but are these measures necessary? Or are they just a slippery slope towards an overreach of power that could have far-reaching consequences?

Umm this whole thing with the US Border Patrol and their surveillance program is just wild ... like what's next? They're basically tracking everyone's every move, and it's not even a secret anymore. And the fact that they're sharing data with local law enforcement and other agencies is just super concerning... I mean, who needs probable cause when you can just flag someone as "suspicious" and pull them over for no reason? It's like, what's going on here? Are we living in some kind of dystopian novel or something?

And can we talk about the cyberattack foiled by Microsoft? That's some crazy stuff . 15.72 Tbps is just... wow. I mean, I know it's not good that our networks are vulnerable to attacks like this, but at least Microsoft was able to step in and save the day.

But what really gets me is the part about the FBI accessing messages from a private Signal group without clear justification. Like, come on ... who gives the government permission to snoop on activists and political groups? It's just not right. And these activists were discussing totally lawful stuff too - like, how to enter courtrooms and gather info about federal personnel. That's not "anarchist violent extremist activity" that's just being a concerned citizen.

Anyway, I'm just gonna sit back here in the shadows and keep reading ...

Big Brother is watching your bumper . This license-plate reader program is like something out of a sci-fi movie - the gov's tracking every move, even on our own streets. Fourth Amendment rights be darned!

this is some crazy stuff... i mean, who needs all this info on people's movements and associations? it feels like the government is already snooping enough with NSA and whatnot. this border patrol program sounds super invasive and like a total overreach . and to think they're sharing data with local law enforcement too... that's just plain sketchy . i'm worried about people getting harassed or arrested for nothing just because the system thinks they might be "suspicious" . on the other hand, glad Microsoft was able to foil that massive cyberattack and keep our online info somewhat safe . but these other incidents with Signal and the FBI... that's some serious chill-the-dissent vibes .