Is climate crisis becoming an excuse for mass surveillance?

The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse is underway. The tearful, intensely dramatic trial is being televised live and has captivated viewers and brings Americans’ perennial debate over gun control to the fore. RT America’s Faran Fronczak takes a look.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) keeps an “unofficial” database with records pertaining to 54 million gun owners, raising concern among those who argue that registration will inevitably lead to confiscation of private arms. Meanwhile, Al Gore, longtime environmental advocate and former US legislator and vice president, says at a recent environmental summit about climate change that he was optimistic about a 300-satellite network and 11,000 terrestrial sensors working together to compile material for a comprehensive database that can track high-volume greenhouse-gas emitters and thereby give the public the “information to hold them responsible.” But is this just another excuse for invasive mass surveillance invading our privacy? Pamella Seay of Florida Gulf Coast University and Penny Dean, attorney and 2nd Amendment advocate, share their analysis. They agree that mass surveillance is irresponsible, useless and often dangerous to privacy and personal liberty.

Plus, RT America’s Trinity Chavez reports on the continuing investigation into the knot of lies and partisan vitriol that formed the foundation of the debunked Russiagate conspiracy theory that so captivated US media and government during the Trump presidency.

But first, Beijing is using mock US warships for target practice in a remote part of Western China. The discovery of the mockups by US satellite photos adds to concerns in Washington about China’s increasingly obvious expectation of open warfare with the US. RT America’s John Huddy has the details. Then Prof. Peter Kuznik weighs in on the geopolitical fortunes of Beijing and Washington.