Spy Cops Inquiry Faces Cover-Up Claims Amid Privacy Concerns

Victims of undercover police surveillance are accusing the Home Office of attempting to curtail the ongoing spycops public inquiry, warning that such actions could lead to a cover-up. The inquiry, led by an independent judge, is investigating decades of misconduct by undercover officers, including deceptive relationships and fathering children with activists they were spying on. The government's concern over the inquiry's length and substantial cost, estimated at £144 million, has fueled these accusations.

Meanwhile, broader privacy concerns are escalating with reports of border agents in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont gaining the ability to search phones without a warrant. Additionally, allegations of TV manufacturers, including LG, spying on users through their devices, recording audio even when seemingly off, and tracking viewing habits, have surfaced. The company Flock, known for its controversial license plate readers, is reportedly offering employee buyouts as cities begin to terminate contracts for its services, indicating a potential shift in the landscape of surveillance technology deployment.