Category: Uncategorized

  • NOPD is Still Using FRT, Still Lying, and Now Covering It Up — Part 5

    Welcome back to part 5 of NOPD’s coverup of unlawful use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT). Today we’re looking at my allegation that SPO Levi Atkins requested the use of FRT from Project NOLA on March 22, 2025. NOPD Public Integrity Bureau (PIB) conducted a thorough investigation and determined that SPO Atkin did NOT request…

  • Interested in What NOPD’s AI Powered Drone Did in 2025?

    I’m finally getting the chance to work through some new documents. One of the interesting hits was was 26-4840. This document is all flight logs for the new NOPD SkyDIO AI Drone. If you’re curious how NOPD is spending your tax dollars to spy on you, here are the logs for all of 2025!

  • Speaking at NOLACon

    I’m happy to announce that NOLACon accepted my talk “Defending New Orleans from a Private Spy Network”. I’ll be speaking at the Astor Crowne Plaza on Saturday May 16th. If you have the time please come and see me. This is a special opportunity. NolaCon is an infosec conference with speakers from around the world…

  • NOPD is Still Using FRT, Still Lying, and Now Covering It Up — Part 4

    I’ll give this one to NOPD. While SPO Pope wanted to use FRT, technically, the target is masked and his face isn’t recognizable. Arguably this is still a violation of NOPD process, handling of police-sensitive material, and mass surveillance but by definition it’s not facial recognition.

  • NOPD is Still Using FRT, Still Lying, and Now Covering It Up — Part 3

    NOPD determined that SPO Micheal Lane didn’t use FRT. Let’s walk through the complaint: The complaint The Evidence Micheal Lane sends the request to Bryan Lagarde at Project NOLA with pictures of Javone Washington asking to alert when his face matches in the Project NOLA FRT system. Bryan Lagarde at Project NOLA replies with a…

  • NOPD is Still Using FRT, Still Lying, and Now Covering It Up — Part 2

    In Part 1, I introduced you to my complaint against NOPD for illegally spying on New Orleans using facial recognition technology (FRT). We move on to bullet point 2: SGT Cherny. This one is spectacular. Sarah Cherny is NOPD’s most prolific user of facial recognition technology. I don’t think detective Cherny works a case without…

  • NOPD is Still Using FRT, Still Lying, and Now Covering It Up — Part 1

    New Orleans has a law banning facial recognition technology (FRT). The City Council passed it. It’s on the books. NOPD is prohibited from using facial recognition technology except under extremely restrictive requirements that does not allow NOPD to use facial recognition technology (FRT) with Project NOLA. Through public records requests, I obtained NOPD emails. Hundreds…

  • Project Mayhem

    Project Mayhem FAQs

    I learned about Project NOLA in the news. Bryan Lagarde, the owner of Project NOLA, loves the media – he even has a TV show “Real Time Crime”. The media coverage was inconsistent with my experience as a past crime victim. I’ve been mugged. I’ve had property stolen. I’ve always had video and at the…

  • Project Mayhem

    Intro to Project Mayhem Training

    I’m happy to announce that Project Mayhem is offering free online training. I’ll share a quick summary of our existing work, answer any questions, and show you how to join the fight against dystopian surveillance. The first online training is Wednesday February 25, 2026 at 6pm. Sign up here!

  • Project Mayhem

    Project Mayhem

    Project Mayhem is a comprehensive investigative operation exposing the illegal surveillance infrastructure in New Orleans, where Project NOLA—a private nonprofit founded by ex-NOPD officer Bryan Lagarde—runs America’s first known live facial recognition system across over 5,000 cameras in direct violation of the city’s 2022 surveillance ban. Through systematic public records requests, technical security analysis, and formal…

  • Ever Wonder How to Remember the Passwords for Thousands of Spy Cameras?

    New Orleans spy cameras use a password scheme that’s both predictable and pathetic: camera at 3424 Magazine Street? Password is 3424Magazine. Address number + street name. That’s it. Why This Matters This is a surveillance network with 5,000+ cameras that NOPD uses to circumvent New Orleans’ facial recognition ban. The security is worse than your neighbor’s…

  • Email from Project NOLA sharing a public Google Drive link

    Project NOLA Exposed Surveillance Videos Through Insecure Google Drive Shares

    Public records reveal serious security flaw in private surveillance network’s coordination with police Through public records requests filed with the New Orleans Police Department, I discovered a significant security vulnerability in how Project NOLA coordinates with NOPD. Email correspondence between NOPD and Project NOLA revealed 44 Google Drive folders containing surveillance videos—all shared with public…

  • The Password to the New Orleans Spy Network is Temp1234

    New Orleans’ sprawling private surveillance system, Project NOLA, operates over 5,000 cameras across the city. While the privacy violations of this network have been well-documented, the cybersecurity practices behind it reveal an equally alarming threat. The only thing protecting access to Project NOLA is “Temp1234.” Catastrophic Security Practices Project NOLA’s access control demonstrates negligence that…

  • Transparency is Accountability

    In my last post, I showed that NOPD had refused to release the results of PIB complaint 2025-0366-P. That case was created in June 2025 and demonstrated systemic abuse of facial recognition technology (FRT) and mass surveillance in New Orleans. As the months passed, it became increasingly obvious that NOPD cannot be trusted to police…

  • New Orleans is Covering Up Illegal Mass Surveillance

    New Orleans is Covering Up Illegal Mass Surveillance

  • What is Project NOLA?

    Project NOLA is a spy network. It is a private nonprofit corporation running America’s first known live facial recognition system — with over 5,000 cameras monitoring New Orleans. Founded in 2009 by former NOPD officer Bryan Lagarde, it evolved from a post-Katrina crime initiative into a massive surveillance network operating outside public oversight. The system…

  • NOPD is Using FRT Against Suspects in Custody

    Everyone hates reading emails. Processing thousands of pages of NOPD emails is beyond tedious. While there are many violations of New Orleans laws and NOPD policy, most of the emails are rote and bureaucratic. But occasionally there are surprises where we discover evidence of new types of violations. Recently reviewed emails show that NOPD is…

  • Speaking at Wild West Hackin Fest (WWHF)

    I’m happy to announce that my talk “Defending New Orleans from a Private Spy Network” was accepted to WWHF. I speak Thursday Feb 12th at 3pm. Hope to see you there.