The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal

The FBI spied on a private Signal group chat of immigrants’ rights activists who were organizing “courtwatch” efforts in New York City this spring,

[They] gained access to conversations in a “courtwatch” Signal group that helps coordinate volunteer activists who monitor public proceedings at three New York federal immigration courts.

The FBI’s report […] does not make clear how the bureau accessed the Signal group. […] typically, the only way law enforcement can access messages is if they are directly included in the chat, are sent copies from a participant or have access to a member’s unlocked phone.

IMO, E2EE in group chats is an indispensable feature. That being said, this story is a reminder that the primary threat model on a group chat is always the other people on the chat.

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I think it can be easily done by hacking the phone of one of the participants.

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IMO, E2EE in group chats is an indispensable feature. That being said, this story is a reminder that the primary threat model on a group chat is always the other people on the chat.

Probably a whole lot easier to have an agent infiltrate the group and get added to the group chat.

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Exactly like they did post 9/11 with every even somewhat left-leaning group, because of course.