US may be asking tech companies for tools to analyse data of seized phones and computers from…
The
United States Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) is reportedly seeking assistance from tech companies to develop a digital forensics tool capable of analysing data from seized phones and computers, specifically to uncover "hidden" patterns. This initiative suggests the agency's aim to enhance its data processing capabilities. According to a report from Wired, a federal registry listing from June indicates that CBP is looking for a tool that can scan text messages, pictures, videos, contacts, and other information on devices confiscated at US borders. Apart from basic data processing, the agency wants a tool that can identify "hidden language" or coded terms within text messages that may not be immediately apparent.
CBP is also looking for a tool to identify specific objects across videos and photos, and to quickly process data for "intel generation," indicating a focus on extracting actionable intelligence from the collected information, the report claims.
USCBP wants new digital forensics tool amid rise in device searches
In 2015, the agency searched around 8,500 devices; by 2023, that number had risen to 41,500. CBP also conducted 4,200 advanced forensic searches in 2024, involving deep data analysis.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Pernas e tornozelos inchados? Descubra o que pode ajudar a drenar agora
aartedoherbalismo
Undo
While CBP currently uses tools from Israeli firm Cellebrite, it remains open to alternatives. As per the report, the agency already employs a variety of data extraction tools, suggesting it's not tied to one vendor.
CBP agents have been known to request access to travellers' phones and other devices, particularly during border checks. This practice has prompted some visitors to use burner phones when travelling to the U.S. to avoid handing over personal data.
In a recent request for information, CBP hinted that it plans to select a vendor and finalise a contract to develop the tool by the third quarter of 2026, with potential implementation following in 2027.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Last chance! Shoppers can claim cash from $10 million Wheat Thins settlement — check eligible items
Snack lovers, take note: if you've purchased Wheat Thins within the last few years, you may be owed money. A major class action settlement is coming to an end, and shoppers have very little time left to file a claim. Wheat Thins customers may be eligible for a portion of a $10 million settlement for misleading "100% whole grain" claims. What is the settlement all about? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Update: The Strategy Uses By Successful Intraday Trader TradeWise Learn More Undo According to the $10 million settlement, the snack brand misled consumers about the ingredients in its goods. According to Top Class Actions, Mondelex International Inc. reached a settlement in a complaint alleging that the business had misrepresented the contents in its Wheat Thins crackers, as per a report by The US Sun. ALSO READ: Elon Musk doubles down on launching new party after poll shows massive American public support Live Events Mondelez International owns Nabisco, the company that makes Wheat Thins. The plaintiffs contended that, contrary to what the packaging stated, the crackers are not entirely whole grain. Rather, the plaintiffs claimed that refined grains were used to make the crackers, reported The US Sun. Who can claim money from the Wheat Thins settlement? Despite not acknowledging any misconduct, Mondelez paid $10 million to settle the complaint. The compensation is open to anyone who purchased any 100% whole grain Wheat Thins product between October 13, 2018, and May 9, 2025. What items are included in the class action? Original Wheat Thins Reduced Fat Wheat Thins Sundried Tomato & Basil Wheat Thins Big Wheat Thins, Ranch Wheat Thins Hint of Salt Wheat Thins Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil Wheat Thins Spicy Sweet Chili Wheat Thins Cash payments are available to class members. Class members are eligible to receive $4.50 per household and must present proof of purchase in order to claim the funds. Households can receive up to $20 per household, depending on how many boxes they buy. The deadline for class members to file a claim is July 7, 2025. Apparently, Americans can file a new case against a well-known retailer. A similar payout is also available to Torrid customers until August 26. According to Top Class Actions, there are only a few weeks left for Americans to submit an application for a class action lawsuit against the plus-size clothing retailer Torrid. The retailer allegedly displayed misleading discount advertisements on its website, according to the plaintiffs. How much can you get from Torrid's settlement? Participants in the class stated that if they had known Torrid did not provide the promised discounts, they would not have bought anything from the company. The retailer agreed to settle the case by paying $10 million in cash and credit but denied any wrongdoing. Eligible plaintiffs may receive up to $15 from the company's cash fund under the terms of the lawsuit. Alternatively, claimants may opt to receive a $15 store voucher. Store vouchers will be emailed to you and can be used for a single order on Torrid's website or at one of their stores. FAQs What is the deadline for filing the Wheat Thins settlement ? To be eligible for a payout, submit your claim by July 7, 2025. What amount of money can I receive if I qualify? Depending on how many eligible boxes you purchased, you could receive up to $20 per household, no action is required if you have proof of purchase.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk wants to shut down the International Space Station for which Donald Trump just sanctioned $1.25 billion; says time to focus on ...
The world's richest man and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has triggered a debate by urging the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a relic that's holding back humanity's cosmic ambitions. On July 3, Elon Musk took to Twitter to repost a summary of space-related funding in President Donald Trump's latest tax bill, which allocates $1.25 billion to sustain the ISS through 2030. Musk's blunt response: 'It's time to retire the Space Station and focus on Mars'. Musk's post sparked a heated online debate, with supporters cheering his bold vision and critics defending the ISS as a cornerstone of global scientific collaboration. The ISS, said to be a marvel of engineering orbiting 250 miles above Earth, has been a hub for groundbreaking research since its first module launched in 1998. But at over two decades old, the station is showing its age. NASA has acknowledged that critical systems, including life support and structural components, are nearing the end of their operational life. The tax bill also includes $325 million to fund a safe deorbit process by 2030, signaling that the station's days are numbered. Last year, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to build a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to guide the ISS to a controlled reentry, ensuring it burns up safely over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Why Elon Musk wants ISS deorbited Elon Musk argues that the ISS's mounting maintenance costs -- estimated at $3-4 billion annually -- are a drain on resources that could be better spent on humanity's next frontier: Mars. 'The ISS was a great achievement, but it's a 20th-century project,' Musk said in a follow-up post on Twitter. 'If we want to become a multi-planetary species, we need to stop tinkering with old hardware and go all-in on Mars.' His vision for a self-sustaining Martian colony has been a cornerstone of SpaceX's mission since its founding in 2002, with the company's Starship rocket designed to carry crews and cargo to the Red Planet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo What supporters of International Space Station say Critics, however, argue that Musk's push to abandon the ISS overlooks its ongoing contributions. The station hosts experiments in microgravity that have advanced medical research, materials science, and our understanding of long-term space habitation -- knowledge critical for Mars missions. 'The ISS isn't just a lab; it's a symbol of what nations can achieve together,' said Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA chief scientist, in a statement to Reuters. 'Dismissing it prematurely risks losing that momentum.' The ISS is a joint effort of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada, and its cooperative framework has weathered geopolitical tensions, including recent strains with Russia over Ukraine. Elon Musk's 'time to retire ISS' divides the internet Public reaction on Twitter too reflect the divide. 'Musk is right—ISS is a money pit. Mars is the future,' posted user @SpacePioneer2030, echoing sentiments from those who see the station as outdated. Others, like @AstroGeek42, countered: 'The ISS still delivers science you can't get anywhere else. Why ditch it before we're ready?' The debate underscores a broader tension in space policy: balancing immediate scientific gains with long-term exploration goals. NASA's current plan keeps the ISS operational until 2030, with private space stations like Axiom Space's proposed orbital habitat expected to fill the gap. But Musk's comments suggest he'd rather see that transition happen sooner. SpaceX, which already ferries astronauts and supplies to the ISS, is positioned to play a key role in both the station's end and the next chapter of space exploration. The company's reusable rockets have slashed launch costs, making ambitious projects like Mars missions more feasible. The tax bill's funding for the ISS and its deorbit underscores a pragmatic reality: the station's end is inevitable. Yet Musk's call to shift focus to Mars raises questions about priorities in an era of constrained budgets and competing global challenges. As one senior NASA official, speaking anonymously, told The Washington Post, 'Elon's not wrong that Mars is the big goal, but the ISS is still teaching us how to get there. It's not an either-or situation—yet."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt committed to providing 27% reservation to OBCs: CM
Bhopal: CM Mohan Yadav has reiterated the state govt's commitment to implementing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He said the matter had been delayed in court due to the earlier announcement being made without proper survey or preparation. Officials have now been instructed to draft a bill for the Assembly based on factual, data-driven findings. Yadav said the state govt was actively working to extend the benefit of reservation to those who were left out under the existing 14% quota. In this regard, a 10% reservation for economically weaker sections of the general category has also been implemented. Efforts will also be made to allow students who were unable to join due to court proceedings to now receive their appointments. He further said that the state govt has resolved pending promotion cases of officers and employees. The process of the caste-based census has also been initiated following the initiative of Prime Minister Modi. Yadav expressed these views during a media interaction at Samanvay Bhawan on Saturday. Letter to Chouhan on moong MSP Yadav has written a letter to Union agriculture and farmers welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting that a target be set to procure at least 40 per cent of the total moong production at the minimum support price in the interest of farmers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Yadav noted that the MSP for summer moong has been fixed at Rs 8,682 per quintal for the Year 2025–26. He highlighted that the area under summer moong cultivation has increased this year, as recorded in the Girdawari conducted via Mobile App, govt stated on Saturday. Appeal to protect farmland Yadav has said that the Gwalior-Chambal region will soon become the most developed part of the state. He urged local farmers not to sell their land, as the region is poised for rapid industrial growth and employment opportunities. Yadav was speaking at the inauguration and foundation laying ceremony of development projects held at the ISBT complex in Gwalior on Saturday. On this occasion, he dedicated and laid the foundation stones of various development works worth Rs 265.56 crore at the press of a button.
