Washington
Over decade of Washington, D.C., protests, police scanned social media for 'disrupters' | StateScoop

Over the last ten years, the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., has used automated, online surveillance tools to monitor individuals’ social media activity during protected activities, such as protests, and even employed fake social media accounts, according to a report released Tuesday.
The report, which was a collaboration between the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law and the Data for Black Lives collective, shared the results of a 2020 Freedom of Information Act request that yielded more than 700,000 pages of internal documents from the Washington police department. The documents showed how MPD police used the online surveillance tools between 2014 and 2021, monitored social media activity, amassed user data and surveilled protest activity though online posts.
City documents acquired through the records request revealed that MPD employed a company called Dataminr, which is an official partner of the social media website X. Dataminr claims to use artificial intelligence to provide its clients real-time alerts about “high-impact events” by monitoring social media posts. According to the Brennan Center report, Dataminr provided MPD with 40 user licenses through a no-cost pilot project in January and February 2017. During that time, the documents showed, MPD used Dataminr software to search for terms such as “riots” and collected social media data surrounding events including Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration and the Women’s March.
Following the pilot, the documents show, MPD purchased seven annual Dataminr licenses at a cost of almost $48,000 using Homeland Security Grant Program funding. And in 2020, the police department renewed its partnership with Dataminr, this time purchasing 50 licenses. The District’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, which handled procurement of the licenses, paid about $200,000 for the 50 licenses and provided 45 of them to the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
In an email dated May 29, 2020, OCTO’s then-chief data officer, Barney Krucoff, wrote that access to Dataminr “would be very handy” in the event that large-scale protests — like those in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s murder — were to occur in Washington, D.C.
Another vendor used by District police, called Voyager, claims it can run keyword searches on social media platforms and identify activists or “disrupters,” and then tap into their networks to glean information about their personal relationships and interests. The tool uses fake accounts to gain access to information that it uses to construct reports of users’ social media activity. That activity includes information about user posts and locations.
Ivey Dyson, counsel with the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, told StateScoop that the project was inspired by work from the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, which in 2016 discovered through FOIA requests that state law enforcement agencies were monitoring social media activity. Dyson said the Brennan Center and Data for Black Lives submitted their own FOIA requests to several police departments for similar information, including in Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles and New York City.
“Something that’s concerning about that is the fact that online relationships might not translate to in person relationships,” Dyson told StateScoop about Voyager’s technology. “And so while these might be accurate about online activity, it’s not really — if Voyager can do what it says it can do — online activity does not necessarily reflect real-life relationships. And so how useful that information is to law enforcement is questionable.”
Initially, MPD produced only a handful of documents, and in response, the Brennan Center and Data for Black Lives, represented pro bono by Ballard Spahr LLP, in March 2022 sued the city for the remainder of the documents, which included procurement records and emails exchanged among the department, the city’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer and several private software vendors that collect and analyze social media activity.
Dyson said the social media vendors used by the District police department, which purport to collect massive amounts of data, often do so against the social media platforms’ terms and conditions agreements. Last year, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — sued Voyager for scraping user data with dummy accounts.
“These tools specifically are unable to understand context, and so what might be an innocent post could then get taken by law enforcement and interpreted into something that is seen as threatening. And this can result in real-life, human-police interactions,” Dyson said. “As we know, those interactions — specifically for communities of color — can be quite harmful, even deadly.”
Dyson said that to avoid chilling free speech and First Amendment-protected activities such as protesting, it’s important for law enforcement agencies to be transparent about their technology policies. That advisement is a key part of the Brennan Center’s social media use policies for law enforcement, a rubric of best practices that also takes into account the risks of automated social media monitoring software.
“I think what’s unique about Washington, D.C., is that it’s a place that hosts hundreds of protests every year,” Dyson said. “It’s a place where important decisions are being made that affect people nationwide. And so there should be strong protections in Washington, D.C., to prevent unwanted scrutiny of protected speech online.”
Neither the Metropolitan Police Department nor the Office of the Chief Technology Officer responded to requests for comment.
Editor’s note: Scoop News Group has previously consulted with Ballard Spahr’s Media and Entertainment Law practice.

Washington
Commanders rookie WR nominated for first prestigious NFL honor

The Washington Commanders got back on track last week after suffering their first loss in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, returning home and dismantling the Las Vegas Raiders 41-24 behind strong offensive output and special teams play.
Washington was able to blow out the Geno Smith led Raiders on the shoulders of backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who started in place of injured Jayden Daniels, and a strong running game that put up over 200 yards on the ground.
But perhaps the biggest play came from the least expected player, rookie wideout Jaylin Lane. Lane received a punt from the Raiders at his own 10-yard line before proceeding to find a hole and taking the punt 90 yards to the house for a touchdown to put the Commanders up 27-10 early in the third quarter.
JAYLIN LANE PUNT RETURN FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! 🔥
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/CnACJVIWdL — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 21, 2025
Lane didn’t do anything outside of that on the day, but that play alone was good enough to earn him a nomination as the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week.
Vote @j_lane_2 for @pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week 🙂↕️
🗳️ https://t.co/fQMbxcCYgn pic.twitter.com/60z18mPAjZ
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 23, 2025
Lane’s highlight play could very likely earn him the honor of being named Rookie of the Week in Week 3, but the team will hope to get more out of him as the season progresses.
Lane, a 2025 fourth round draft pick out of VIrginia Tech, has yet to make a real impact at wide receiver for the Commanders despite the wide receiver room not being all that deep.
The Commanders have relied heavily on their starters Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and Noah Brown early in the season, so they would love if Lane and Luke McCaffrey would emerge throughout the rest of the year to take some of the pressure off the aforementioned starters.
Through three games in the NFL, Lane has only managed three receptions on eight targets for 11 yards and no scores. Lane’s next chance to show what he can bring to the table for the Commanders comes Sunday when they take on the Atlanta Falcons.
READ MORE: This position’s depth tested for Commanders in Week 3
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Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 season.
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Washington
W&L Celebrates 2025 National Food Service Workers Day

Washington and Lee University will honor its talented and hard-working Dining Services staff on Thursday, Sept. 25, by celebrating National Food Service Workers Day, a national initiative born nearly a decade ago to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the food service workers who create meaningful dining experiences every day.
“The staff at the Marketplace works very hard seven days a week to provide healthy and nutritious meals for the students,” said Mike O’Byrne, Marketplace executive chef. “We thought it would be nice to take a day to honor this contribution to the students and their college experience. We, and I especially, are truly grateful to have such a talented and professional staff, and this is just a small measure to say thank you for their dedication to the campus community.”
W&L will celebrate its accomplished Dining Services staff through a special lunch menu featuring dishes inspired by team members’ cherished family recipes. After inviting dining staff to share their favorite home recipes, the culinary team selected six dishes from the diverse submissions, choosing recipes that complemented each other while being suitable for large-scale preparation. The staff members whose recipes were chosen will be honored alongside their featured dishes, with photos and personal stories about each menu item displayed throughout the service lines. Lunch will be served from 10:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
“Last year was the first year that we did this, and some of the staff were a little nervous about having their dishes and pictures presented,” O’Byrne said. “With the warm reception from the students, faculty and staff, it really turned into a very positive experience for us. Many of the staff that participated submitted dishes again this year because of how much they enjoyed the event.”
Among the featured selections this fall is a vegan chorizo stuffed pepper dish submitted by lead cook Romero Dunn. A three-year staff veteran, Dunn said the idea for his featured dish came to mind while casually discussing the event with O’Byrne.
“I was thinking of how to make a vegan option for a longtime classic,” said Dunn. “Growing up, I always appreciated how my mother could make a satisfying meal with a few simple ingredients.”
Dunn has a family history with W&L’s Dining Services, noting that several relatives served on the culinary team dating back to when meal service was handled in Evans Dining Hall.
“My grandfather was the chef, and it feels good to follow in his footsteps,” reminisced Dunn, who expressed gratitude for the yearly event honoring the contributions of food service workers.
“National Food Service Workers Day recognizes the people and hard work that goes into preparing meals for a university,” he said. “Preparing meals for the university takes pride and teamwork, and the recognition of this event shows an appreciation for cooks such as myself, who have chosen this career.”
Another entrée selected was Brenna Patterson’s creamy Tuscan chicken recipe. Patterson, a three-year employee and member of the front of house team at the Marketplace, selected her dish because it is a favorite among her two children, who regularly help her prepare the dish in their home. Patterson shared her recipe for anyone who wishes to add it to their regular home meal rotation.
Not to be outdone, several side dishes will also be featured on the menu, including mashed parsnips and carrots, a favorite family recipe proposed by Eithne Power-Mulligan, a cook with Dining Services since 2023.
“I selected mashed parsnips and carrots because, while most people eat other one or the other, a lot of my friends had not had both combined,” she said. “The nutty, earthy flavor of the parsnip combined with the sweetness of the carrots is a great balance of rustic root vegetables and reminds me of my mam and growing up in Ireland. A lot of our food was farm to table and is very filling and nutritious.”
Power-Mulligan added that sharing the dish brings her joy, as does the thought of being recognized for her efforts in feeding the university community.
“I really like the fact that there is a National Food Service Workers Day,” she said. “Since coming to work at W&L, I have learned how much effort and time goes into the all the different facets and the preparation of the menu items offered. It’s so nice to be appreciated. I love everything about working here. The Marketplace team are a great group of people that offer and give encouragement, support, knowledge and the opportunity for me to grow as an individual.”
W&L’s Dining Services program employs nearly 250 staff members and 74 student workers across its eight campus venues. The team was recently cited among the nation’s best for employee development, receiving the Employee Development Program of the Year Award from the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS).
Last year, the Dining Services operation served just shy of one million meals (966,550) through its venues and catering services.
National Food Service Workers Day Lunch Menu
Creamy Tuscan Chicken – Brenna Patterson (food service worker)
Arroz Con Pollo Casserole – Brooklyn Hatcher (dining shift supervisor)
Vegan Chorizo Stuffed Pepper – Romero Dunn (lead cook)
Mashed Parsnips and Carrots – Eithne Powers-Mulligan (cook)
Squash and Onions – Chris Vess (food service worker)
Braised Cabbage with Sausage and Tomatoes – Tasha Johnson (cook)
Washington
Women’s Golf Kicks Off Season At Chambers Bay – University of Washington Athletics

The Leadership & Golf Invitational, hosted by Seattle U and UW at Chambers Bay Golf Course, will feature 16 teams.
Last year at this tournament, the Dawgs tied for a sixth place finish out of 16 teams. This marks the third straight season that Washington has opened the year at home.
Play will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 15. Live scoring will be available here.
Five Huskies return from last season’s roster, including Amber Li, Carmen Lim, Athena Ni, Mads Smith, and Wendy Tang. First year head coach Anna Temple has added senior transfer Claudia Alnajim to round out the UW roster.
Lim, Smith and Tang were named Big Ten preseason golfers to watch.
Washington’s lineup for the Leadership & Golf Invitational will be:
- Carmen Lim
- Mads Smith
- Wendy Tang
- Amber Li
- Athena Ni
Individual: Claudia Alnajim
For more information on the UW women’s golf team, follow @UW_WGOLF on X and Instagram.
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