Topic: Verizon Surveillance

Verizon informed Senator Ted Cruz that his office's hardline was affected by a surveillance effort led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. While AT&T reportedly challenged the legal basis for the data requests, Verizon complied. The incident has sparked outrage among members of Congress regarding privacy and executive overreach.

Verizon is running commercials that normalize the tracking of children via mobile maps, framing it as a tool for parental peace of mind. This marketing strategy is seen as a way to reduce resistance to pervasive RFID surveillance. By setting the stage through news stories about lost individuals and helpful technology, companies create a demand for constant location monitoring.