The thing that gets me is the McDonald's employees tip. Whenever something like this happens the police are flooded with false information and bad tips, this case would have been even moreso due to the politics involved. What made them decide this random person in another state was credible? What about this tip in particular made them say "this information should be followed up on."

[–] b161@lemmy.blahaj.zone 41 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Most likely Parallel Construction.

Snowden revealed some of the surveillance powers of PRISM and agencies like the NSA. Local police would not have access to those kinds of technologies, but calls could be made to push the police in the right direction.

[–] mhague@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

That's a good point. Just have fusion centers wait for a random tip or social media post and use that.

[–] frostysauce@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

The very first day I remember news sources saying the McDonald's worker called in a tip. Since then I've consistently heard that someone at McDonald's called 911 on him because he was acting suspiciously. (As in looking haggard from days on the run and also wearing a mask in fucking Altoona, PA, where folks didn't wear masks at the height of the pandemic)