Project On Government Oversight

A surveillance reckoning has arrived. Congress can respond to that reckoning and protect our privacy, but it is asleep at the wheel. It's time to wake up.

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In case you missed it, a breaking piece from @pogoinvestigates.bsky.social this week: In July, August, and September, three of the nation’s leading AI spent nearly 60% more than the same period last year:

Congress needs to act to protect privacy and dismantle the surveillance state. Make your voice heard:

"Joe Spielberger, senior policy counsel for the Project on Government Oversight, said what Mr. Trump laid out was 'not a serious anti-fraud or whistle-blower incentive program.'"

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Nvidia spent about $7.5 million COMBINED lobbying the federal government in the third quarter. This spending continues an upward trend in financial efforts to influence lawmakers. Read more from @schwellenbach.bsky.social for @pogoinvestigates.bsky.social:

Don't miss the latest from @pogoinvestigates.bsky.social ⬇️

This is not a serious attempt to combat fraud. It is only going to incentivize political provocateurs to target anyone the administration deems an enemy and potentially get paid by taxpayer money to do so.

Congress needs to act to protect privacy and dismantle the surveillance state. Make your voice heard: https://act.pogo.org/a/tell-congress-close-data-broker-loophole?ms=pogobsky-fisa

Spending isn't a defense strategy.

"Imagine what’s possible if we build on this momentum and demand the government stop buying our private data, sifting through our e-mail, and follow the Constitution?"

A surveillance reckoning has arrived. That's why we've called on Congress to protect privacy and dismantle the surveillance state.

ICYMI: Applications to become POGO's Director of Information Technology are due in just a few days. ⬇️

You've likely heard a lot about the $1.5 trillion defense budget-- but what does all that spending actually mean? @virginiajburger.bsky.social has the answers for you:

Eight principles that any pro-oversight member of Congress will embrace:

The latest on the $1.5 trillion defense budget from @virginiajburger.bsky.social: "Oversight must come before more money, not after." Read the full breakdown here:

The CFTC's eyebrow-raising action here is why Congress needs to step in and stop all federal employees from using prediction markets. Even the appearance of insider trading damages public trust. Congress must take action.

Our nation was founded on a promise of accountability. Now, we must ask ourselves whether we’re keeping this promise. From July: America's First Big Idea Was Accountability

If Congress wants to truly tackle corruption, there's three key issues they need to focus on: stock trading, crypto, and prediction markets. We lay it all out here:

Do you have questions about medical care in ICE custody? Want to better understand who is responsible when people don't get the care they need? @pogoinvestigates.bsky.social answers those questions and more in their latest:

Livestreaming the Fort Hood shooter’s execution is wrong. The U.S. hasn’t held a public execution in nearly a century, for good reason: it risks unconstitutional cruelty, harm to minors, and more violence, including to troops. Congress must act now. www.pogo.org/press-center...

In case you missed it: we are #hiring a Director of Information Technology! Learn more about the job and apply by Oct. 20th ⬇️

“The revolving door has always been there, but it seems to only get worse over time. Under this administration, that doesn’t seem to prioritize things like ethics and conflicts of interest; it’s even worse than it has been previously.” -@veritasdhg.bsky.social in @fedscoop.bsky.social ⬇️

A census miscount can influence where billions of dollars go that support businesses, economic development, and employment. Read the latest installation in our #CensusMatters series:

"Congress needs to defend the privacy rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. That means going beyond Flock and passing laws that keep up with technology. It means ending warrantless surveillance in all its forms."

How can you tell if a member of Congress is truly pro-oversight? Look no further! Here are eight constitutional principles every member of Congress should embrace to strengthen oversight, accountability, and checks and balances:

We're #hiring! POGO is looking for a Director of Information Technology to provide strategic leadership on IT and oversight of our IT systems and infrastructure. Applications are due Oct. 20th:

If these allegations are true, this story fits into a dangerous pattern of the Trump administration violating protestors' constitutional rights. We're calling on AG Todd Blanche to provide more information about what happened here.

"Congress must step up and pass legislation that stops dragnet surveillance in all of its forms, not just Flock cameras." Read POGO's Don Bell on why the surveillance state is bigger than just Flock cameras, and what must be done to dismantle it:

Don't miss the latest edition in our #CensusMatters series: The census influences where billions go that support businesses, economic development, and employment. . So a miscount is, simply put, a big deal. Check it out:

Today we're at #PowerToThePeople Fest, hanging out in Freedom Village! Come by to play some games, get some swag, and learn how you can be part of building a better, more accountable government. Can't make it? Follow along with our day at the festival on Instagram!

When people in ICE custody have medical needs, who provides that care? What care is required? Who is responsible if those requirements aren’t met? @pogoinvestigates.bsky.social answers these questions in their latest explainer:

We've identified three key, problematic vectors of corruption in our government: ➡️ stock trading ➡️ crypto ➡️ prediction markets Read more from @veritasdhg.bsky.social:

Invoking the Insurrection Act to keep people from the polls would be a massive attack on our democracy. It should not be on the table.

We must chart a new path forward that protects our privacy. As people across the country rise up against cameras tracking their every move, Congress must act to protect privacy and dismantle the surveillance state. Read more from POGO's surveillance expert, Don Bell: https://bit.ly/4ysP423

Yesterday, you made the Senate listen. Now, the work continues. We're still pushing for the Restore Trust in Congress Act, a real ban on congressional stock trading without the loopholes. We're fighting to make sure you can finally trust that public office is for public service, not private gain.

The Trump administration is trying to use pocket rescissions to take back nearly a billion dollars that Congress already appropriated. This is yet another attack on the legislative branch's spending powers. Congress has to do everything it can to reclaim that power.

This sham legislation failed. Thank you for making your voices heard. But the fight isn't over. Congress can and must demonstrate that ethics and transparency are more than slogans, and that fighting corruption isn't just an empty election-year talking point.

This vote is happening soon. Don't let up the calls. We need you to STOP this bill, now. ⬇️

Right now, members of Congress should be doing everything they can to restore your faith in them. Instead, they're voting on a bill that would continue the corrupt practice of congressional stock trading. Now is the time for action.

Right now, members of Congress should be doing everything they can to restore your faith in them. Instead, they're voting on a bill that would continue the corrupt practice of congressional stock trading. Now is the time for action.

Your senators are voting on a sham stock trading bill as soon as today. What can you do to block it? 📤 Email your senators using our link ☎️ Call Congress at 202-224-3121 🗣️ Share this post so your friends know what’s happening.

The latest from POGO's surveillance expert, Don Bell: Congress must act to protect privacy and dismantle the surveillance state. Why? Because if the federal government can use unrestrained AI to spy on the public, the right to privacy will be obliterated.

Now is the time to make your voice heard. Call your member of Congress and make sure they know we need REAL action on stock trading: (202) 224-3121.

The Stop Insider Trading Act is, simply put, weak. It doesn't do enough to stop the real problems caused by congressional stock trading. If the Senate wants to spend its limited time on this issue, they need to vote on the Restore Trust in Congress Act.