The FBI began to take away smartphones from Americans protesting against police brutality

The FBI has the tools to hack smartphones, but tends to use them against terrorists.

Now the media are writing that the Federal Bureauinvestigations sent a special team to Portland over the summer to seize smartphones and other devices from Americans protesting police brutality and racism.

Special counter-terrorism unitcalled Fly Team. In fact, it should not fight the protesters, writes Engadget. However, his participation in the summer operation became known through a letter from a retired special agent. The media fears that the FBI may have exceeded its authority to work with Americans' smartphones.

It is reported that FBI employees keep the seized devices for several months.

We will remind, the protests in the United States began in the spring after the death of the African American George Floyd during the arrest.