Why Is the Federal Government Planting Microphones in Public?By Derrick Broze Jeff Harp, a former FBI special agent and security analyst for KPIX 5 in San Francisco, recently told KPIX 5 News that FBI agents regularly hide microphones in indiscriminate locations for surveillance purposes. Harp says that between March 2010 and January 2011, FBI agents hid microphones inside light fixtures and at a bus stop outside the Oakland Courthouse without a warrant to record conversations. The FBI is reportedly attempting to catch real estate investors involved in fraud. They put microphones under rocks, they put microphones in trees, they plant microphones in equipment, Harp said. I mean, theres microphones that are planted in places that people dont think about, because thats the intent! As Harp pointed out, An agent cant just go out and grab a recording device and plant it somewhere without authorization from a supervisor or special agent in charge. The decision to plant microphones had to come from high-ranking authorities with the bureau. One of the men accused of fraud is East Bay landlord Michael Marr. Network World reports: In fact, the defense believes the feds committed felonies when they planted the bugs. Also, according to East Bay Express, defense attorneys say government prosecutors moved to withdraw the recordings as evidence so the FBI can cut its losses and sweep its criminal conduct under the rug. As with other surveillance tools like the Stingray cellphone surveillance, once the feds are caught they drop the evidence so they do not have to offer an explanation. If law enforcement is not even willing to legally use these tools and provide valid reasoning to justify the use of invasive tools, what is the point of spending millions of dollars on surveillance equipment? In Marrs case U.S. Justice Department Attorney Kate Patchen claims(pdf) that the FBI received audio only from a microphone hidden in a hedge near the steps next to the Contra Costa County Finance Building. The statement say that a backpack next to a statue inside the Alameda County Courthouse, and microphones at the Fallon bus stop in Oakland and the Escobar bus stop in Martinez, were also secretly recording conversations. Two light boxes at the top and bottom of the steps of the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland also contained microphones for recording audio. The FBI does admit to gathering audio and video from cameras hidden in three CC vehicles in three different locations near courthouses in Martinez and Alameda County. This is not the first time the bureau has been caught hiding bugs near the San Mateo County courthouse. In 2015, The Recorder reported that in 2009 and 2010, the FBI hid bugs inside a metal sprinkler control box attached to the wall, and in a vehicle parked on the street. Just last month selfnews Post reported on another example of the federal government covertly installing spying equipment. In our story, Why Is The Federal Government Installing Mysterious Boxes On Utility Poles?, we looked at the case of Phoenix resident Brian Clegg. Clegg was concerned about a box he witnessed being installed on a power pole. Clegg said the box was facing his house and he believed it may have had cameras inside. The pole was owned by Arizonas largest power provider, SRP, who claimed no one had permission to put the box on their pole. Brian Clegg says shortly afterwards SRP sent a crew to remove the box. Shortly after ABC15 investigated the matter, the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives(ATF), a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice,acknowledged installing the box as part of an ongoing investigation. Officials with the ATF would not provide details about their alleged investigation and would not confirm if they were conducting surveillance in the area. Its about time Americans face the fact that we live in a massive surveillance state, panopticon control grid. We must also recognize that no single person, president, or law can undo the interlocking Orwellian machine that hears and sees all. Its up to each of us as empowered individuals to stop supporting these systems and invest in new technologies that protect privacy and allow the free hearts and minds to combat the all pervading eyes and ears of Big Brother. For more information on the crimes of the FBI please read this two-part series. Derrick Broze is an investigative journalist and liberty activist. He is the Lead Investigative Reporter for selfnewsPost.com and the founder of the TheConsciousResistance.com. Follow him on Twitter. Derrick is available for interviews. This article may be freely reposted in part or in full with author attribution and source link. I need to know why an eastbay landlord was the subject of an FBI investigation, why he was at the courthouse 364 times and recorded and why its a fourth amendment issue when it is a recording in a public space. Blessed are the whistle-blowers for they are the light of justice and blessed are the protectors for they are the shield of wisdom. I would like to know why the first amendment doesnt protect the talkers and why the fourth amendment applies in this case. TheVeryLastCrusade: I would like to know why the first amendment doesnt protect the talkers and why the fourth amendment applies in this case. Its probably because Laws are only as effective as those that are tasked to keep them. I agree, Isiah! It seems there will always be groups. What we need to do is apply behavioral conditioning (money) when correct actions are taken. (And yet, this did not work very well for affirmative action in the 60s. So, who knows!) ) Its been over 35 years, since Ive read the book, 1984 But Im sure that Orwell delt with this subject in the book.Bet that a lot of motel rooms are bugged as well. Dave: Its been over 35 years, since Ive read the book, 1984 But Im sure that Orwell delt with this subject in the book.Bet that a lot of motel rooms are bugged as well. The irony here is not lost in the fact that under the guise of freeing people who were being oppressed by evil regimes that engaged in such actions, many here have been convinced to fight wars to remove said regimes. Who can forget that this kind of action is one of the things that supposedly led people to label the likes of Sadaam Hussein an evil dictator and oppressor of people. Imagine that. 