Attempting to Run in the Tech Age
US Marshals Use Informants to Search for Insurgents
Most of the Capitol insurgents have now returned to their homes. Many are in hopes that their participation in a treasonous act against their country will not be discovered. Some will try to return to their routine, while others will attempt to hide from authorities. However, in the weeks and months that follow US marshals will use technology and informants to track down those responsible for the lawlessness, theft, and destruction on January 6th.
Some of the technology used will not be identified in this article, as our focus will be on facial recognition software. A facial recognition system uses biometrics to map facial features from a photograph or video. It compares the information with a database of known faces to find a match. In simple terms, virtually everyone who entered the Capitol building has had multiple photographs, most not released to the public, taken of their face. Those photographs will be compared with numerous databases to make an identification. Ironically, the great majority of these insurgents did not use masks, even though this might have been the one time in modern history when they could have worn masks without raising suspicion. For those who did wear a mask, sorry, new technology can still identify you.
More importantly, marshals will use informants to track and arrest these conspirators. Many of these conspirators bragged about their plans on Facebook, Parler, and other social media websites. These are gold mines of information for investigators at the beginning of their investigation. The airlines have records of everyone who flew into Washington DC which can be subpoenaed. Also, many fellow passengers have already contacted law enforcement to express their concern and outrage over the insurgent horde’s intentions and conduct. Hotels also have records which can also be subpoenaed, and many of their employees will remember the loud and boisterous ones who broadcast their intent for all to hear.
So, who are these informants? Many are MAGA supporters but choose to live in a democracy rather than an authoritarian state. Most are patriotic Americans who were disturbed and horrified to see the failed coup attempt on television. They could be neighbors, friends, friends of friends, even relatives. Some might even be those who came to Washington but then realized how out of control the insurgents had become and decided they wanted no part in the killing, mayhem, destruction, and threat to our democracy that the more treasonous insurgents wanted.
As the saying goes, you can run, but you can’t hide.
