If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A data breach affecting a third-party customer service provider used by Discord has exposed personal information from users who had contacted the platform’s support teams and among the data accessed were some images of government-issued IDs submitted by users. The incident will amplify growing concerns around online ID verification, a practice increasingly mandated by governments as a way to enforce age restrictions online. More: The Digital ID and Online Age Verification Agenda While Discord confirmed that the attacker did not breach its internal systems, the compromise of a vendor handling sensitive user data shows how collecting official identification, even in limited cases, creates serious and lasting privacy risks. The compromised vendor had supported Discord’s Customer Support and Trust & Safety teams, and the attacker targeted it in an effort to extort money. While the breach did not involve Discord’s internal systems, sensitive user data was exposed. The company stated that the attacker accessed information from a “limited number of users” who had interacted with support staff. “This unauthorized party did not gain access to Discord directly,” the company said. Still, the data affected included names, usernames, email addresses, IP logs, partial billing details, and messages exchanged with support. The government ID aspect of the breach will renew concerns over growing demands by governments to require age verification through official identification. Discord’s own statement confirms the attacker obtained a “small number” of ID images that were provided during age appeals, documents that users were likely compelled to submit as part of policy compliance. The push for mandatory identity verification online, often framed as a way to protect minors or enforce content restrictions, has led more platforms to collect and store sensitive data. But, as this incident shows, these records are only as secure as the systems and third-party contractors that manage them. In this case, a vendor’s access was the weak link, and attackers exploited it. More: Tea App Leak Shows Why Digital ID Age Verification Laws are Dangerous Discord confirmed that the attacker’s goal was to extort a financial ransom and that “no messages or activities were accessed beyond what users may have discussed with Customer Support or Trust & Safety agents.” Unlike a password or a credit card, an ID document can’t simply be changed if stolen. This is precisely why privacy advocates have warned against government-led efforts to tie real-world identity to digital participation. In response to the breach, Discord revoked the vendor’s system access, launched an internal investigation, and brought in forensic experts. Law enforcement has also been notified. Impacted users are being contacted via official channels only, with the company stressing that it will not reach out by phone. “We are in the process of contacting impacted users. If you were impacted, you will receive an email from noreply@discord.com,” the company said. In a public statement, Discord reiterated its position: “At Discord, protecting the privacy and security of our users is a top priority. That’s why it’s important to us that we’re transparent with them about events that impact their personal information.” If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Discord Support Data Breach Exposes User IDs, Personal Data appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Friday's Final Word

In a rare second White House press briefing of the week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt largely avoided the disingenuous nonsense the liberal media have spewed this week about the federal government shutdown and declarations that Republicans are to blame and falsely claiming Democrats support free health care for illegal immigrants. But towards the end of the briefing, she ran into such partisan hijinks from CBS and the U.K.’s Independent. CBS News Radio’s Linda Kenyon first raised this issue in the briefing’s waning moments, huffing there’s “a disconnect in the [GOP’s] messaging” with regard to the facts because “U.S. already prohibits” “giving health care to illegal immigrants.” Leavitt was not having an ounce of this partisan spin and offered an extensive explanation about how Medicaid picks up the emergency room tabs for those unable to pay...which would include illegal immigrants and wreaked havoc on major cities   A few minutes later, The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg had the briefing’s final question and wondered what the administration believes hospitals should do with illegal immigrants who arrive at their doorstep (i.e. turn them away, leaving them to fate):   In between them, PBS News Hour’s new White House correspondent Elizabeth Landers — who had previously been with CNN, Vice, and Scripps — wondered if acts of political violence such as Charlie Kirk’s assassination has given the administration reason to chance its stance on “gun safety.” Leavitt saw right through this trap:   Speaking of partisan traps, ABC’s Mary Bruce huffed about why would the administration consider federal layoffs during this government shutdown when no one was laid off during a shutdown in President Trump’s first term:   She also seemed to take offense with another AI-generated video posted on President Trump’s Truth Social account. This time, it starred Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought. Leavitt reminded Bruce of a little thing called humor. Elsewhere and earlier in the briefing, Bloomberg’s Kate Sullivan touted the United Nations claim about Israel committing genocide against Gazans:   Shifting to conservative media and other journalists from credible news organizations, our friend Amanda Head from Just the News led off the Q&A in the “new media seat.” Her questions touched on the unrest on the far-left unrest in Portland, Oregon and then timing for federal layoffs if the shutdown drags on:   Fox’s Peter Doocy came with an important question about Project 2025 and the dance the Trump team in the campaign versus now in the White House:   In true Doocy fashion, he also pivoted to something no other reporter would ask about (click “expand”): DOOCY: And just because there’s so much shutdown talk, something different. What do you guys think about the NFL’s decision — LEAVITT: Oh, boy. DOOCY: — to name Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer, somebody who has not scheduled shows in the us because he says that he is worried that ICE is going to come and arrest his fans. LEAVITT: Well, look, I know there are many in this room who are very anxious to hear the President’s response to Bad Bunny being the halftime show, so I won’t get ahead of him. I won’t reveal what he feels about this. Next time you all ask him a question, you’re welcome to do that. I have my own feelings on that, but that’s not what I’m up here to talk about. As far as ICE being at the Super Bowl, as far as I’m aware, there’s no tangible plan for that in store right now. However, of course, this administration is always going to arrest and deport illegal immigrants when we find them. If they are criminals, we’re going to do the right thing by our country. Another genuine, non-softball question from conservative media came when our buddy Mike Carter of Newsmax asked about the legality in the President “declar[ing] war against international drug cartels”:   And finally, NewsNation’s Libbey Dean wondered if the layoffs will still happen if the shutdown were to end soon (and also, separately, on the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a birth control drug):   To see the relevant transcript from the October 3 briefing, click here.

An eco-extremist group funded by leftist billionaire George Soros is turning from its typical climate change obsessions to launch an all out war against President Donald Trump. The youth-led Sunrise Movement, which was funded with $2 million between 2019 and 2023 alone by Soros, “expanding its mission to battle ‘authoritarianism’ as the Trump administration targets left-leaning organizations and puts one of the group’s major funders [Soros] in the crosshairs, according to The Intercept October 2. The radical organization, which has become notorious for unlawful demonstrations and obstructions, was featured in a blockbuster Capital Research Center report detailing how Soros gave $80 million to fund pro-terrorist organizations like Sunrise. The CRC report served as the pretext for the Justice Department directing prosecutors to draft plans to investigate Soros’s Open Society Foundations. “The group, now eight years old, has decided that it cannot continue to fight climate change without fighting Trump,” The Intercept summarized.  It appears Soros is getting a nice return on his investment in Sunrise by the group fighting Trump on his behalf. Sunrise Executive Director Aru Shiney-Ajay told The Intercept that “‘There is no serious way to think about stopping the climate crisis under a fascist government.’” She continued: “‘The path to climate lies through getting rid of the authoritarian government we’re in.’” If that sounds like it came straight out of the Antifa lexicon, it's because it does.  CRC investigative researcher Ryan Mauro wrote that Sunrise, in particular, “endorsed the Antifa-linked Stop Cop City campaign, in which activists currently face over 40 domestic terrorism charges and 60 racketeering indictments.” That coalition, noted Mauro, “engaged in arson, property damage and violence against law enforcement personnel and utility workers to try to stop construction of this local police training center.” He continued: “Attacks include setting a police vehicle ablaze; throwing Molotov cocktails, bricks and rocks at police; setting construction equipment on fire; blocking roads with obstacles like tires; harming police officers’ eyes with lasers; and attacking the Atlanta Police Foundation’s building with fireworks.” MRC Business, in partnership with Bongino Report, also released a months-long investigation into Soros’s bankrolling of the global climate change movement in the U.S. and abroad. For Sunrise, which MRC and Bongino Report profiled, engaging in wanton disruption and chaos is its modus operandi. Here’s a recent example: During the crescendo of the tumultuous 2024 election in April, Sunrise protesters “blocked an intersection on a Monday morning near Vice President Kamala Harris’s Brentwood home, “leading police to arrest six of them without incident,” according to The Los Angeles Times. Sunrise activists would then taunt Harris again outside her home in September 2024, after she stepped out-of-line with the climate religion and bragged about increased levels of gas production under Biden during a debate with Trump.’ To be clear: Sunrise’s Shiney-Ajay insisted that coming to the Godfather of the Left’s defense was part of its overall mission to battle climate change. “We are pretty clear that we are doing this so that we can get on track to win federal climate legislation. That has always been the mission of Sunrise,” Shiny-Ajay exclaimed to The Intercept.  Oh but The Intercept was sure to point out that Soros’s OSF and Sunrise “both say they reject violence.” What a joke.  Read MRC Business and Bongino Report’s complete investigation into George Soros’s financing of the global climate movement below. SorosClimateReport_FINAL_DIGITAL.pdf-1745254431445.pdf

Turkish Ministry of Culture and TourismThe gold brooch is about 4,500 years old. During recent excavations at the ancient city of Troy, archaeologists unearthed a gold brooch and a rare jade stone. The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism described the finds as the most significant archaeological discoveries at the site in the last 100 years. Both artifacts are believed to be around 4,500 years old. The ancient city of Troy has undergone continuous excavations for the last 160 years. These particular items were found during digs supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future” project. The Gold Brooch And Jade Stone Found In Troy Turkish Ministry of Culture and TourismThe gold brooch is the best preserved of its kind that’s ever been found. The gold brooch, jade stone, and a bronze pin were found in the archaeological layers of Troy II and date back to 2500 B.C.E., according to a social media post from Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. Troy II was one of the earliest settlement phases of the ancient city. The gold brooch is one of only three of its kind ever discovered and is incredibly well-preserved. The artifact features four spiral rings at the top with a long, tapered pin. It would have been used to fasten clothing, but it was also a symbol of social status. The jade stone may have once been part of a piece of jewelry, and its presence in Troy suggests that the city was well-connected to the rest of the world via trade routes even 4,500 years ago. Turkish Ministry of Culture and TourismThe jade stone was extremely rare for this region and time period. “The brooch is of high quality and artistic craftsmanship, proving that it was made locally in Troy,” Reyhan Körpe, an excavation leader and professor at Turkey’s Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, told Hürriyet Daily News. “The jade stone, on the other hand, may have come… from China or Afghanistan — showing that Troy was a major trade hub during the Bronze Age.” The Artifacts Settle A Long-Standing Debate About Troy II There is still much to be learned about ancient Troy and its role throughout the ages. These latest discoveries provide further clues to the city’s social hierarchies and trade practices with faraway regions. But these items have also answered a question about Troy II. Archaeologists have long debated when this era of settlement truly began. Turkish Ministry of Culture and TourismA bronze pin found alongside the brooch and the jade. Many estimates put the start somewhere between 2300 B.C.E. and 2200 B.C.E. However, the 4,500-year-old brooch, jade stone, and pin provide evidence that settlement began at least as early as 2500 B.C.E. Archaeological digs at the ancient city of Troy have been ongoing for over 160 years. This particular excavation was supported by Turkey’s “Heritage for the Future” project, which began in 2023 to highlight and provide funds for the various archaeological investigations being undertaken in Turkey. Both the gold brooch and the jade stone will be put on display at the Troy Museum, which is located near the archaeological site. After reading about the gold brooch and rare jade stone found in ancient Troy, discover whether the Trojan horse was actually real. Then, go inside seven lost cities around the world. The post Archaeologists Discover Gold Brooch And Rare Jade Stone While Excavating Ancient Troy appeared first on All That's Interesting.

JOURNALISM! NBC News' Description of Would-Be Kavanaugh Assassin Transitioned Quickly

FBI Director Kash Patel says the bureau is cutting ties with two organizations that for decades have tracked domestic extremism and racial and religious bias, a move that follows complaints about the groups from conservatives and prominent allies of President Trump.

Members of the Walter family were enjoying a quiet Thursday on their farm in West Texas when they saw a massive parachute drifting across the sky.

North Carolina's largest police union has requested federal law enforcement assistance, including National Guard deployment to Charlotte, citing what it described as escalating violence and a staffing crisis.

Warren Buffett participates in a discussion during the White House Summit on the United State of Women in Washington on June 14, 2016. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesWarren Buffett’s tenure as chief executive…