Millions of users’ personal data shared with US law enforcement: Report
U.S. law enforcement agencies have significantly increased their requests for user data from platforms like Meta, Google and Apple. Between 2014 and 2024, Meta saw a 675% surge in shared accounts.
Social media companies track user activity to build detailed profiles that include everything from a person’s banking activity to the grocery stores they visit and apps they use.
The U.S. is the leading country in requests for data from Meta and Google, ahead of Germany, France and the UK.
Full Story
A new report reveals that U.S. law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on social media companies to access user data, with platforms like Meta, Google and Apple granting these requests more frequently than ever.
Proton report shows Big Tech shares more user data
According to Proton, a Switzerland-based organization, between 2014 and 2024, all three companies significantly increased the number of accounts they shared with law enforcement agencies. Meta, in particular, saw a 675% surge in shared accounts during that time. In total, the social media platforms shared over 3 million user profiles.
Proton also highlights how companies such as Meta, Google and Apple boost their profits by tracking users who engage with their platforms. Through apps like Facebook, Meta can compile detailed profiles that include data from banks, health apps, grocery stores and other websites.
How can the government access your data?
While it may raise privacy concerns, law enforcement agencies must have a search warrant or a court order, such as a subpoena, to obtain user data from social media companies. If there is probable cause in an investigation, law enforcement can access photos, messages and location information tied to a user’s profile.
In some cases, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, based on national security concerns, allows U.S. agencies greater access to user data with fewer restrictions. If authorities claim the need to protect against harm, the government may bypass some of the usual limits.
Social media policies on sharing user data
Google, Meta and Apple have policies regarding government data requests. On its website, Google states every request is reviewed to ensure it complies with federal and state laws. The company claims it limits the data shared or, in certain instances, protests against sharing any information at all.
Meta has a similar policy, stating it collaborates with law enforcement to maintain platform safety. The company’s website indicates it will provide information during emergencies, such as missing children cases or suicide prevention.
Apple, in its 2024 update, asserts it does not grant the government direct access to user data. Instead, Apple’s legal team reviews each request for its legality, scope, and relevance before accepting or rejecting it.
When compared to 14 other countries that share information, the U.S. ranks first in requests made to Meta and Google. Germany, France and the UK follow in the number of requests they make for user data.
Dems criticize Trump saying he’d lower prices on day 1: ‘S— ain’t true’
Senate Democrats launched a social media campaign to draw attention to price increases since President Trump took office. The videos, released by dozens of lawmakers, were sent out the same day the president is scheduled to give a joint address to Congress.
The videos point out that groceries, gas, housing, rent and eggs are more expensive, despite Trump’s promise to lower prices on day one.
Democrats also want to block an extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. Republicans say the extension is necessary to avoid a tax hike for everyday Americans.
Full Story
Senate Democrats launched a social media campaign to draw attention to price increases since President Trump took office. Each video starts with a clip of Trump stating during a campaign speech, “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one.”
That’s followed by a clip of a senator saying, “S— that ain’t true, that’s what you just saw.”
The videos point out that groceries, gas, housing, rent and eggs, among other things, have become more expensive since the Trump administration began. According to January’s numbers, apparel is the only sector that saw a price decrease.
“Donald Trump has done nothing to lower costs for you,” the senators said. “Instead, he’s done things like pardon violent criminals who beat police officers on Jan. 6.”
“He’s letting Elon Musk take a chainsaw to vital government programs for Americans and giving him access to Americans’ most sensitive data: Social Security numbers, tax returns, health care records and more,” they continued.
Sh*t That Ain’t True: Trump promised to lower prices on day one, but costs have only gone up ⬆️
Democrats are also trying to block Republican efforts to renew the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, President Trump’s signature tax legislation signed into law during his first term. They argue it will benefit top earners and corporations the most.
“Because Trump and Musk are cutting critical services for you in order to make room for more tax cuts for billionaires like them while still leaving you to deal with rising costs, a housing crisis and health care that’s getting more expensive and not less,” the senators said. “The Republican plan is simple: you lose, and billionaires win.”
Sh*t That Ain't True: Donald Trump said he'd lower prices on day one. He’s giving tax cuts to billionaires and cutting Medicaid instead. pic.twitter.com/BryJhpedja
— Senator Andy Kim’s Office (@SenatorAndyKim) March 4, 2025
Republicans contend that extending the cuts will help everyday Americans and that without an extension, the average family of four will pay $1,700 more per year.
Senators that participated include Cory Booker, D-N.J., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release February’s consumer price index numbers on March 12. This will mark the first full month under the new Trump administration.
TikTok profits from sexual content by teens, sparks safety concerns: Report
TikTok is facing allegations that it profits from explicit content created by minors. Reports claim teens as young as 15 use the platform to promote sexual services.
ChildFund International reports a rise in online sexual exploitation of children in Kenya, with 13% of teens aged 12 to 17 threatened or blackmailed into participating in sexual activities.
TikTok defends its safety measures, stating that its automated technology removes harmful content and restricts features for minors.
Full Story
Moderators for TikTok, a popular social media platform known for its dancing videos and tutorials, have raised concerns that the app is now being used for soliciting sexual services. The platform’s “TikTok Live” feature allows users to livestream and connect with audiences worldwide, which has led to its exploitation.
BBC reports teens are being sexually exploited on TikTok
Moderators and organizations claim TikTok profits from explicit content created by teenagers as young as 15, according to a report from the BBC.
In 2024, ChildFund International tracked a rise in the abuse of children across Africa. The organization reported a 13% increase in the number of 12- to 17-year-olds in Kenya who were threatened or blackmailed into engaging in sexual activities online.
The news outlet spoke with women from Kenya who said, as teenagers, they used TikTok to advertise on livestreams. These users reportedly engaged in provocative behavior, such as dancing or posing, to draw in messages from other users requesting sexual activities. In some cases, teens were paid to meet users in person.
According to moderators hired by TikTok, these “performers” use slang with sexual connotations, which is reportedly common on the platform. Users can send virtual gifts during livestreams, which are then converted into real cash.
Livestreamers are said to split half of their earnings with TikTok for each transaction, according to a lawsuit filed in Utah against the app.
Utah sues TikTok
Utah’s attorney general and governor sued TikTok in 2024 for allowing teens to be sexually exploited in exchange for money. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok is aware of the dangers minors face on the app but has failed to take adequate action.
Utah court documents reveal evidence of a redacted internal investigation by TikTok conducted in 2022. The investigation reportedly confirmed that the company profits from virtual gifts, with the largest portion coming from content featuring sexual activity and nudity.
TikTok’s ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual exploitation
In a statement, TikTok said it has a “zero tolerance” policy for exploitation. The company has also partnered with content creators to produce videos promoting online safety and privacy, specifically targeting teens and their parents. TikTok’s website states that it uses automated moderation technology to remove harmful content and weed out bad accounts.
To further protect minors, TikTok says it limits the features available to users under 18, such as not allowing them to livestream or receive gifts.
For users 16 and under, additional restrictions apply. These include only allowing comments from friends, no direct messaging, and requiring accounts to be set to private.
President Trump announced Bitcoin, Ethereum and a host of other cryptocurrencies to be held in U.S. reserves. Bitcoin has since erased nearly all the gains made on the announcement.
Many countries, including the U.S., UK and China, have held significant amounts of cryptocurrency, much of it seized from criminal enterprises.
The White House will hold a cryptocurrency summit this Friday, March 7.
“A U.S. Crypto Reserve will elevate this critical industry after years of corrupt attacks by the Biden Administration, which is why my Executive Order on Digital Assets directed the Presidential Working Group to move forward on a Crypto Strategic Reserve,” the president posted to Truth Social the morning of Sunday, March 2.
“I will make sure the U.S. is the Crypto Capital of the World,” Trump added. “We are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump said the crypto reserve would hold Ripple, Solana and Cardano in his initial post.
“Obviously, BTC and ETH, as other valuable Cryptocurrencies, will be the heart of the Reserve,” he later clarified. “I also love Bitcoin and Ethereum!”
What Trump said about holding crypto before
Trump previously promised his administration would keep all the Bitcoin the U.S. government holds.
“It will be the policy of my administration, United States of America, to keep 100% of all the Bitcoin the US government currently holds or acquires into the future,” he said at Bitcoin2024 in July. “This will serve, in effect, as the core of the strategic national Bitcoin stockpile.”
The government currently holds somewhere around 200,000 Bitcoin, according to Arkham Intelligence. That would put its value at roughly $16 billion, depending on price fluctuations. Meanwhile, it holds around 56,000 Ethereum, which is worth around $116 million as of Tuesday, March 4. Most of the cryptocurrency held by the U.S. government was seized due to unlawful activity.
Other countries also hold cryptocurrency from similar seizures.
China reportedly held close to as much Bitcoin as the U.S. with 194,000, but way outpaced the U.S. on its holdings of Ethereum at 833,000. Similar to the U.S., most of China’s cryptocurrency was seized as part of the PlusToken scam. China doesn’t report the information publicly but is believed to have sold $20 billion in Bitcoin in 2025.
Trump has been very active in his support of the crypto community and industry since reentering the White House. In the first days following his inauguration, Trump established a working group on crypto to be led by the White House’s AI and Cryptocurrency Czar David Sacks. Part of that working group is looking into creating a national crypto stockpile and proposing a regulatory framework for the industry.
“Attendees will include prominent founders, CEOs, and investors from the crypto industry, as well as members of the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets,” the White House Office of Communications said in a release. “President Trump’s policy vision represents a new era for digital financial technology. The administration is committed to providing a clear regulatory framework, enabling innovation, and protecting economic liberty.”
Biotech company hoping to revive woolly mammoth, creates ‘woolly mouse’: Study
Scientists hoping to bring woolly mammoths back from extinction have genetically engineered the “woolly mouse.” They may be tiny, but Colossal Biosciences, the company behind the research, said they are a big step toward its goal of reviving the woolly mammoth in a few years.
The company showcased the mice on Tuesday and published a scientific paper detailing their creation.
Researchers said they implanted genetically modified embryos into female mice, which gave birth to the first pups in October 2024.
Full Story
Starting small to later go big, scientists hoping to bring woolly mammoths back from extinction have genetically engineered the “woolly mouse.”
Colossal Biosciences, the company behind the research, said the tiny mice are a big step toward its goal of reviving the woolly mammoth in the next few years.
The company showcased the fluffy mice on Tuesday, Mar. 4, and published a scientific paper detailing their creation.
How was the “woolly mouse” created by scientists?
Researchers said they implanted genetically modified embryos into female mice which then gave birth to the first pups in October of 2024.
Scientists used genetic engineering techniques to combine mammoth DNA and mouse DNA to successfully create mice with fat and fur similar to a mammoth, which provides insulation for the mammal to survive cold weather.
What is the company saying?
Colossal Biosciences said it is “validation” and a step toward its ultimate goal of bringing the woolly mammoth back.
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, the biotech company is also working to bring back the dodo bird, the Tasmanian tiger and other species to potentially repair ecosystems.
Are there critics of the efforts?
Opponents of de-extinction, however, warn that the environmental impacts of reintroducing long-extinct species are still unknown, and contend efforts should focus exclusively on protecting species at risk of extinction instead.
When can woolly mammoths be expected?
Colossal Biosciences said it aims to produce mammoth-like Asian elephant embryos by next year, with the first calves coming in 2028.
‘Suspicious’ fire set at Tesla charging stations amid anti-DOGE protests
Seven Tesla charging stations were intentionally set on fire early Monday, according to fire officials. The investigation into the fire comes as people around the world rally against Elon Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency.
More than 50 demonstrations happened at Tesla showrooms over the weekend.
A Tesla ‘buyers strike’ is also reportedly impacting the company’s sales.
Full Story
Massachusetts police continue to investigate an incident where someone deliberately set fire to seven Tesla charging stations. The arson occurred early Monday, March 3, at a shopping center in Littleton.
Fire crews had to shut off the power to extinguish the flames.
Tesla has become a target of vandalism in multiple states, following CEO Elon Musk’s role in leading the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Over the weekend in Maryland, protesters reportedly vandalized a Tesla dealership with graffiti a day after nearly 300 demonstrators gathered outside the business to protest Musk and his push to slash government spending. More than 50 demonstrations took place at Tesla showrooms across the U.S.
How is the anti-DOGE movement spreading internationally?
The movement has gained traction internationally with similar protests happening in Spain.
Domino’s trains 7,000 stores as it enters the stuffed crust fray
Domino’s is getting in the stuffed crust pizza battle. The company launched its Parmesan Stuffed Crust Pizza this week to try to bring in more customers.
Pizza Hut, Papa Johns and Little Caesars already their own versions of stuffed crust pizza on the market.
The cost of the new deal $9.99.
Full Story
Pizza chains like Papa Johns and Pizza Hut have catchy phrases and TV ads for their versions of stuffed crust pizza, but a new company is entering the fray. Domino’s Pizza is now looking to catch up to the competition in the stuffed crust pizza game.
Where is the new crust available?
The chain spent 12 weeks training franchisees and 7,000 stores on how to make parmesan stuffed crust pizza. This week, Domino’s launched it at stores across the country.
What do the other chains have?
The new pizza for Domino’s comes 30 years after competitor Pizza Hut came out with its cheesy stuffed crust pizza. Eventually, Little Caesars followed in 2018, with Papa Johns following suit in 2021.
Domino’s Chief Marketing Officer Kate Trumbull told CNBC that millions of its customers had to go in search of stuffed crust pizza elsewhere. She added that when Pizza Hut originally launched its original product Domino’s viewed it as a gimmick that actually slowed service, which upset customers and even workers.
That mindset changed as people stayed home during the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered pizza. As a result, in 2022, Domino’s executives decided to come up with a stuffed crust pizza in what it calls one of the longest development efforts in company history.
How much does it cost?
The company has been working to improve its overall operations, including retraining employees on making the crust, introducing a custom dough spinner at its restaurants. The cost of the parmesan stuffed crust pizza is listed as $9.99.
President Donald Trump imposes new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. And Trump puts American military aid to Ukraine on hold as he questions whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants peace. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Canada, China respond swiftly to new US tariffs taking effect
The tariff war between the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China has begun. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada officially started at midnight, and he has doubled the 10% tariff slapped on China last month to 20%.
Additionally, Canadian energy products will now see a 10% import duty.
Retaliation has been swift, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing that his country will impose its own tariffs against the U.S. over the next 21 days, vowing to implement taxes of up to 25% on more than $100 billion worth of American goods.
China has also responded, targeting American agricultural products. The new Chinese levies will include a 15% tariff on chicken, wheat, corn and cotton, as well as a 10% tariff on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, fruits, vegetables and dairy products, including fish.
These will take effect next Monday, March 10.
Mexico has not yet responded.
Altogether, China, Canada and Mexico accounted for over 40% of all U.S. imports last year. They’re also the top three markets for American exports.
The tariffs against Mexico and Canada were scheduled to take effect last month, but Trump postponed them by 30 days to allow for ongoing negotiations.
Trump has maintained that the tariffs are intended to compel those countries to stop the flow of the powerful drug fentanyl into this country. He has also demanded that Mexico and Canada take strong action to prevent migrants from crossing their borders into the U.S. illegally.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform, “To the great farmers of the United States, get ready to start making a lot of agricultural products to be sold inside the United States.”
Trump pauses military aid for Ukraine
At least one top Ukrainian official is speaking publicly about Trump’s decision to pause U.S. military aid to the country.
Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said the move appears to be an attempt to force Ukraine to accept Russia’s demands when negotiating a peace agreement, Reuters reported.
“On the surface, this looks really bad. It looks like he is pushing us towards capitulation, meaning (accepting) Russia’s demands. To stop aid now means to help Putin,” Merezhko said.
This all comes after last week’s contentious meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which escalated into an argument in front of reporters on live TV.
Straight Arrow News reporter Karah Rucker has more on what led up to this moment here.
The Ukrainian official, Merezhko, compared the U.S. cutting off military aid to the Munich Agreement of 1938, when Nazi Germany was permitted to annex part of Czechoslovakia.
Meanwhile, in a statement, a White House official said, “President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution.”
Trump to deliver first joint address to Congress on Tuesday
The pause to Ukraine aid comes as Trump readies to address both chambers of Congress for the first time during his second term in office on Tuesday, March 4.
White House staffers told Fox News that tonight’s speech will focus on four main parts and have the theme “The renewal of the American dream.”
They included highlighting accomplishments from Trump’s second term so far, both in the U.S. and internationally. This includes his administration’s impact on the economy, Trump’s renewed push for Congress to pass more funding for border security and how the president plans to encourage global peace.
The event comes just ten days before the federal government is expected to run out of money, with the possibility of a shutdown looming March 14.
Trump has already urged the Republican-led Congress to adopt a stopgap funding measure to keep the government open—and this is likely to take center stage Tuesday as well.
FBI has turned over ‘truckloads’ of Epstein files: AG Bondi
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department has received additional Jeffrey Epstein files from the FBI. After last week’s major release, which turned out to be somewhat disappointing, it was revealed that the files contained Epstein’s contact list, but not what is believed to be his client list.
She told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night, March 3, that the DOJ delivered “truckloads” of additional documents.
Bondi said the FBI would review thousands of new documents, and Director Kash Patel would issue a detailed report explaining why the bureau had not released them initially.
This comes as the agency forces James Dennehy, the top special agent overseeing the FBI’s New York field office, to retire.
Multiple news outlets reported that Dennehy sent an email to colleagues saying he was told to submit his retirement papers last Friday, Feb. 28, but was not given a reason why.
Dennehy was appointed to lead the New York field office in September 2024 by then-FBI director Christopher Wray, who departed when former President Joe Biden left office.
Senate blocks bill banning transgender athletes from women’s sports
The U.S. Senate failed to advance a bill that bars transgender women and girls from participating in school sports designated for female athletes.
The vote was along party lines with 51 republicans voting for the measure and 45 democrats voting against it.
The bill needed 60 votes to advance in the Senate.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and education programs that receive federal funding.
The measure looked to determine protections for Title IX, “Based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth. “
Trump signed an executive order last month giving federal agencies power to ensure that entities that receive government funding interpret sex as a person’s gender at birth. He said it’s “common sense” that men play men’s sports and women play women’s sports.
Republicans in Congress have now tried to make that policy, into law. Democrats and LGBTQ+ activists have called the measure bullying.
NCAA conference launches women’s flag football as varsity sport
The Atlantic East Conference launched its first women’s flag football season on Monday at a press conference in Philadelphia, at the home stadium of the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Atlantic East Conference is a group of schools in the NCAA’s smallest division, but it said it is setting the stage for a new era of growth and recognition for the sport.
The conference has seven members, and while not all of them will field a team, three outside schools will participate for the flag season only.
Women and girls’ flag football has gained popularity in recent years, with 14 states already sanctioning it for play at the high school varsity level and 18 more testing pilot programs.
Additionally, the National Federation of State High School Associations reported that participation doubled last year, with almost 43,000 girls participating.
Cyber thieves indicted in New York for stealing, reselling Taylor Swift tickets
Two people were arrested for allegedly stealing more than 900 concert tickets and reselling them at a profit of over $600,000. The scheme involved exploiting a loophole through an offshore ticket vendor.
The suspects allegedly intercepted ticket URLs from purchasers before sending them to co-conspirators, who then resold the tickets.
They face charges of computer tampering and grand larceny, with potential sentences of up to 15 years in prison.
Full Story
Online actors have been arrested and arraigned for allegedly stealing tickets to Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour in New York. The Queens District Attorney’s office revealed a cybercrime ring was responsible for the theft of over 900 tickets.
Ticket theft scheme targeted popular events
District Attorney Melinda Katz said two people worked through a Jamaica-based contractor for StubHub. Users can buy and sell tickets for concerts, games and other live events on the online platform.
“They allegedly exploited a loophole through an offshore ticket vendor to steal tickets to the biggest concert tour of the last decade and then resold those seats,” Katz said in a statement.
Investigation tracks 350 orders, $600,000 profit
The suspects allegedly stole URLs from ticket holders and forwarded them to two additional co-conspirators. Instead of the legitimate purchasers receiving their tickets, the stolen tickets were downloaded and resold on StubHub, generating over $600,000 in profits, according to the D.A.’s office.
The suspects face charges of computer tampering and grand larceny. They could spend up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge.
The investigation, which tracked the suspects’ activities between 2022 and 2023, uncovered 350 orders, netting nearly 1,000 tickets. Investigators found that the group targeted some of the most popular events, including concerts by Adele and Ed Sheeran, the U.S. Open tennis championships and NBA games.
The D.A.’s office said the investigation is still open as authorities work to determine the full scope of the crimes and identify additional accomplices. At least one suspect remains at large, and another has died.
Apple’s AI upgrade for Siri could be delayed for years
Apple’s new AI-powered Siri update is facing delays, and users may have to wait longer for enhanced features. Despite launching several AI tools, including writing assistants and image generation, the next big Siri update might not arrive until this summer’s WWDC conference.
A new survey shows 73% of users would be fine without Apple Intelligence, while interest in AI-driven interfaces grows among Android users.
Competitors like Google and Amazon have already launched advanced AI assistants, putting pressure on Apple to catch up.
Full Story
Apple’s long-awaited AI-powered Siri upgrade is facing delays. The tech giant’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) features were expected to enhance Siri’s capabilities, but users may have to wait longer than anticipated.
Apple began rolling out Apple Intelligence last October. First announced at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the update introduced tools like AI-driven writing assistants, Image Playground for text-based image generation, and Genmoji, which creates personalized emoji-style images.
However, Bloomberg’s Apple expert Mark Gurman reports that the highly anticipated Siri upgrade won’t be available any time soon. While the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series, including the 16 Plus, Pro, Pro Max, and E models, feature Apple Intelligence, experts believe this is just the beginning phase.
More advanced Siri features may take years
Apple Intelligence aims to make Siri more conversational and capable of handling complex requests. A demonstration from Apple shows Siri recalling past interactions, a feature that would set it apart from current AI assistants.
However, a more advanced version, comparable to Google’s Gemini Live, remains months — if not years — away. Apple is reportedly prioritizing privacy and stability, which could slow the rollout. According to Gurman, the next major Siri update could debut at this summer’s WWDC.
Consumers may not be excited about Apple Intelligence
While Apple refines its AI strategy, competitors are moving ahead. Google recently unveiled Gemini Live, and Amazon introduced Alexa Plus, a generative AI-powered assistant.
Despite Apple’s AI push, consumer interest appears limited. A SellCell survey cited by Gizmodo found that 73% of Apple Intelligence users would be fine without it for now. Meanwhile, demand for AI-driven interfaces is increasing among Android users.
Will Apple fall behind?
With Google and Amazon advancing their AI capabilities, Apple’s cautious approach may impact its competitiveness. The company’s focus on privacy and security could eventually pay off, but Apple users will have to wait and see how Apple Intelligence evolves.