Government Surveillance Unmasked: Pen-Link’s Pricey Secret Exposed!
Government surveillance tools are not trade secrets, despite what some contractors might claim. Pen-Link’s recent agreement to disclose product prices to a California Sheriff’s office underscores the importance of transparency. The public—and indeed, defendants and attorneys—deserve to know how these tools are used, ensuring accountability and informed community discussions.
Hot Take:
Who knew transparency could be so expensive? Pen-Link just learned that you can’t put a price tag on secrecy—unless you’re selling surveillance tools to the government. Who would have thought that a “Web Intelligence Platform” could be so, well, unintelligent about public relations? Maybe they should have invested in a “Good Publicity Platform” instead.
Key Points:
- Pen-Link agrees to disclose product prices and descriptions after a legal battle.
- The settlement marks a win for transparency advocates like the EFF.
- The disclosed records reveal the Sheriff’s Office spent $180,000 on surveillance tools.
- Pen-Link’s argument that its products are trade secrets was largely debunked.
- This case underlines the ongoing debate over government surveillance and public rights.
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