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Matt Cagle

@mattcagle

ACLU NorCal attorney focused on surveillance, privacy, and technology. Opinions are my own.

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Latest posts by Matt Cagle @mattcagle

Preview
Ringโ€™s Founder Knows You Hated That Super Bowl Ad

Part of the myth of Ring is that this is MY camera on MY door--but when you see a map and realize that there are a hundred in your neighborhood and they're all connected by a corporation that serves the police, the illusion dissolves.

19.02.2026 19:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 324 ๐Ÿ” 119 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 13 ๐Ÿ“Œ 4
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Leaked Email Suggests Ring Plans to Expand โ€˜Search Partyโ€™ Surveillance Beyond Dogs Ring's CEO told staff the feature is โ€œfirst for finding dogs,โ€ indicating a plan to expand.

In case it wasn't clear, we are the dogs. And we're not lost.

www.404media.co/leaked-email...

18.02.2026 23:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 163 ๐Ÿ” 53 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This is a common refrain in tech policy spaces and specifically with stories about surveillance. But it just conveys cynicism at the expense of putting forward a productive vision of how to make peopleโ€™s lives better. We can do much better.

18.02.2026 15:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

surprising amount of chilling of dissent in this new era of tech companies and the government collaborating to stand up for free speech etc

14.02.2026 17:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 10 ๐Ÿ” 5 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

The social media companies must do more to stand up to these demands, many of which are illegal. This week @eff.org and @aclu-norcal.bsky.social sent the companies a letter explaining what they should do to protect peopleโ€™s privacy and free speech. www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...

14.02.2026 01:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 9 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Open Letter to Tech Companies: Protect Your Users From Lawless DHS Subpoenas EFF is calling on technology companies like Meta and Google to stand up for their users by resisting DHS lawless administrative subpoenas for user data.

The federal government is abusing its power by targeting people who speak out against Trump administration policies online.

Alongside @eff.org we're calling on tech companies to resist DHS's lawless demands to turn over user data without a court order.

14.02.2026 00:11 ๐Ÿ‘ 23 ๐Ÿ” 5 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Proud to be part of the ACLU team opposing DHS attempts to harass and intimidate people exercising their First Amendment rights.

14.02.2026 00:16 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Open Letter to Tech Companies: Protect Your Users From Lawless DHS EFF is calling on technology companies like Meta and Google to stand up for their users by resisting DHS lawless administrative subpoenas for user data.

The Department of Homeland Security is issuing lawless subpoenas for online user data. Tech companies need to do more to fight back. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...

10.02.2026 18:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 125 ๐Ÿ” 64 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Google promises to give users notice before turning their data over to law enforcement. This gives users an opportunity to challenge unlawful requests.

Sometimes, it breaks that promise to avoid delays.

10.02.2026 17:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Coalition Urges California to Revoke Permits for Federal License Plate Reader Surveillance SAN FRANCISCO โ€“ California must revoke permits allowing federal agencies such as Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to put automated license plate readers al...

California must revoke permits allowing federal agencies such as CBP and the DEA to put automated license plate readers along border highways, a coalition of 38 groups led by EFF and the Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition demanded today of @governor.ca.gov and the CA Dept of Transportation.

10.02.2026 19:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 130 ๐Ÿ” 50 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

Once again, DHS withdraws an illegal and unconstitutional subpoena after the ACLU challenges it in court. This is the third time in about as many months.

10.02.2026 18:41 ๐Ÿ‘ 302 ๐Ÿ” 70 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I will not support any funding deal that puts money in the hands of Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, and this violent agency. Defund and abolish ICE now.

10.02.2026 16:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 31691 ๐Ÿ” 6004 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 771 ๐Ÿ“Œ 466

Just spitballing here, but maybe we should celebrate all this beautiful stuff and have a better country?

09.02.2026 01:38 ๐Ÿ‘ 1857 ๐Ÿ” 224 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 21 ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

Bad Bunny is the best and we are going to win

09.02.2026 01:47 ๐Ÿ‘ 24 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Kind of amazed she had it turned on? I only turn it on when I'm crossing borders or am visiting a country controlled by a repressive regime ahhh shit

04.02.2026 15:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 3708 ๐Ÿ” 683 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 31 ๐Ÿ“Œ 11

74% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, with 53% *strongly* supporting it, according to YouGov polling from last month.

Weak calls for "reform" are coming from *elected* Democrats like Chuck, not the average Democratic voter.

03.02.2026 22:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 6347 ๐Ÿ” 1434 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 109 ๐Ÿ“Œ 82

This needs to be at the top of every story about the ICE body-cam thing. They already have body cameras.

02.02.2026 22:31 ๐Ÿ‘ 1685 ๐Ÿ” 611 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 14 ๐Ÿ“Œ 8
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ICE is afraid of children protesting โ€œNext time, Iโ€™ll be back with a gas mask.โ€

ICE tear gassed a bunch of children on Saturday. This was a massive escalation of force. They were shooting tear gas at the back of the crowd, it took these unmasked people maybe 3-5 minutes in the cloud of tear gas to escape in without trampling. www.theverge.com/policy/87278...

03.02.2026 14:11 ๐Ÿ‘ 4944 ๐Ÿ” 2089 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 100 ๐Ÿ“Œ 138

DHS is waging a bi-coastal assault on the free speech rights of people speaking truth about power. Last fall, in a separate case, the agency unsuccessfully sought the identity of our client who discusses ICE activity on Instagram. www.aclunorcal.org/press-releas...

03.02.2026 17:25 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has weaponized administrative subpoenasย to attack free speech, according to privacy and civil rights groups.

Homeland Security is targeting Americans who criticize it with unfounded investigations fueled by judicially-unsupervised administrative subpoenas.

This article tells the story of our client who was so targeted.

www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

03.02.2026 16:25 ๐Ÿ‘ 10 ๐Ÿ” 11 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
โ€œUnconscionable,โ€ Jon thought as he found an email address online for the lead prosecutor, Joseph Dernbach, who was named in the story. Peering through metal-rimmed glasses, Jon opened Gmail on his computer monitor.

โ€œMr. Dernbach, donโ€™t play Russian roulette with Hโ€™s life,โ€ he wrote. โ€œErr on the side of caution. Thereโ€™s a reason the US government along with many other governments donโ€™t recognise the Taliban. Apply principles of common sense and decency.โ€

That was it. In five minutes, Jon said, he finished the note, signed his first and last name, pressed send and hoped his plea would make a difference.

Five hours and one minute later, Jon was watching TV with his wife when an email popped up in his inbox. He noticed it on his phone.

โ€œGoogle,โ€ the message read, โ€œhas received legal process from a Law Enforcement authority compelling the release of information related to your Google Account.โ€

โ€œUnconscionable,โ€ Jon thought as he found an email address online for the lead prosecutor, Joseph Dernbach, who was named in the story. Peering through metal-rimmed glasses, Jon opened Gmail on his computer monitor. โ€œMr. Dernbach, donโ€™t play Russian roulette with Hโ€™s life,โ€ he wrote. โ€œErr on the side of caution. Thereโ€™s a reason the US government along with many other governments donโ€™t recognise the Taliban. Apply principles of common sense and decency.โ€ That was it. In five minutes, Jon said, he finished the note, signed his first and last name, pressed send and hoped his plea would make a difference. Five hours and one minute later, Jon was watching TV with his wife when an email popped up in his inbox. He noticed it on his phone. โ€œGoogle,โ€ the message read, โ€œhas received legal process from a Law Enforcement authority compelling the release of information related to your Google Account.โ€

A retiree wrote this email to a DHS attorney. Within five hours, DHS demanded Google turn over records for his account.

A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.

New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social

03.02.2026 15:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 2757 ๐Ÿ” 1298 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 44 ๐Ÿ“Œ 73

We didn't say body cams on ICE. Their murders are already on video. We said no more ICE.

02.02.2026 22:16 ๐Ÿ‘ 6359 ๐Ÿ” 1534 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 46 ๐Ÿ“Œ 20
Stephen Miller โ€ข
@StephenM โ€ข9h
If you want to combat fraud, crime and illegal immigration, reach out. Patriots needed.
X
Chad Mizelle
@chad_mizelle โ€ข9h
If you are a lawyer, are interested in being an AUSA, and support President Trump and anti-crime agenda, DM me.
We need good prosecutors. And DOJ is hiri...
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t7 Stephen Miller reposted
Chad Mizelle ยฎ
@chad_mizelle โ€ข9h
If you are a lawyer, are interested in being an AUSA, and support President Trump and anti-crime agenda, DM me.
X
We need good prosecutors. And DOJ is hiring across the country. Now is your chance to join the mission and do good for our country.
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Stephen Miller โ€ข @StephenM โ€ข9h If you want to combat fraud, crime and illegal immigration, reach out. Patriots needed. X Chad Mizelle @chad_mizelle โ€ข9h If you are a lawyer, are interested in being an AUSA, and support President Trump and anti-crime agenda, DM me. We need good prosecutors. And DOJ is hiri... 1.5K ใ›ใฆ3.5K 14K ill 383K ไผ t7 Stephen Miller reposted Chad Mizelle ยฎ @chad_mizelle โ€ข9h If you are a lawyer, are interested in being an AUSA, and support President Trump and anti-crime agenda, DM me. X We need good prosecutors. And DOJ is hiring across the country. Now is your chance to join the mission and do good for our country. 999 LT1.5K 4.5K ill 1.2M ไผ

This rules so hard. In law school I remember people who wanted to be federal prosecutors spending three years doing everything they could to be maybe, possibly be competitive for an AUSA job someday. Now you just need to hop on X the everything app and DM a guy named Chad.

31.01.2026 23:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 2487 ๐Ÿ” 553 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 94 ๐Ÿ“Œ 55
An image taken from a car's dash camera: three men wearing mismatched military-style clothes point handguns at the driver. All three men have their faces covered. One is holding his weapon one-handed and sideways. They appear to have exited a red SUV with no government markings.

An image taken from a car's dash camera: three men wearing mismatched military-style clothes point handguns at the driver. All three men have their faces covered. One is holding his weapon one-handed and sideways. They appear to have exited a red SUV with no government markings.

There's absolutely no reason for the average person to believe these are agents of the state and not just three dudes with an Amazon account.

31.01.2026 22:20 ๐Ÿ‘ 47 ๐Ÿ” 12 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The powerful tools in ICEโ€™s arsenal to track suspects โ€” and protesters Biometric trackers, cellphone location databases and drones are among the surveillance technologies agents are using in their immigration enforcement campaign.

The tools Americans pay for so ICE can spy on them
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...

29.01.2026 21:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 141 ๐Ÿ” 61 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4 ๐Ÿ“Œ 8

wake up babe new perverse incentive just dropped

28.01.2026 21:46 ๐Ÿ‘ 15 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Think about it like this. This ICE agent was on camera and unmasked โ€” fulfilling one of three "demands" Democratic leader Chuck Schumer just issued in order to agree to save Republicans and give DHS even more money.

And he was still threatening to kill someone.

28.01.2026 20:42 ๐Ÿ‘ 4716 ๐Ÿ” 1828 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 64 ๐Ÿ“Œ 54

This is the restoration of free expression that Zuckerberg promised when Trump retook office last year.

27.01.2026 20:01 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I'm going to print this image out and hang it on my wall because the idea that this exists should fill everyone with absolute boiling fucking rage every day.

27.01.2026 05:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 2899 ๐Ÿ” 963 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 8 ๐Ÿ“Œ 17