FBI Obtains Phone Records With a Post-it Note 187
angry tapir writes "The FBI was so cavalier — and telecom companies so eager to help — that a verbal request or even one written on a Post-it note was enough for operators to hand over customer phone records, according to a damning report (PDF) released on Wednesday by the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General."
Oblig. IP jokes. (Score:5, Funny)
Hey (Score:3, Funny)
I wonder if this method would work at a bank?
I might save some time in the drive thru...
Re:Oblig. IP jokes. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hey (Score:4, Funny)
I wonder if this method would work at a bank?
I might save some time in the drive thru...
Well, it would definitely attract the attention of the FBI anyway...
Re:Democrats, as usual! (Score:5, Funny)
No, remember, exposing what the FBI is doing is what destroys America. If you don't want the FBI to illegally spy on terrorists -- and of course that's the only people they spy on, even if the report says the opposite -- then you want terrorists to destroy America. Because you love terrorists. And hate America.
Curse them... (Score:3, Funny)
Curse Romy and Michelle [imdb.com] for inventing something that the government is using to spy on it's own people!
I say we hang them for treason!
Re:fucZk. (Score:3, Funny)
One of the rare times an AC goatse post should actually be considered insightful and informative.
Tried that at a bank once ;-) (Score:4, Funny)
Wrote on a post-it-note "Want $2,000,000" in small unmarked notes. All they did was have me arrested:( Clearly I need to work on my social engineering skills. Maybe next time I won't walk in with my helmet on, so they can see my big friendly smile.
Credit card statements (Score:4, Funny)
I don't really care about my phone records (I never really call anyone anyway). But how hard is it for them to sift through my credit card records looking for dirt?
Re:Oblig. IP jokes. (Score:3, Funny)
Look, if the FBI didn't have a good reason, I'm sure they wouldn't have done that. Let's stop trying to hinder their investigations and let them get their jobs done.
Sometimes a good investigator doesn't really need a reason. This is what hunches are all about. Some of the best investigators come from Notre Dame -- and why not? The place is so ridden with valuable hunch-making environments that a man developed a full out hunchback!
I've got a *feeling* that said hunchback ought lead our best forces. FBI or CIA head? Why not!
I'm gonna go with my gut and say I think I ate something sarcastic for lunch and it's not sitting well... eeeggh... brrrff...
Yet it is amazing... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Law enforcement thinks they're above the law. (Score:2, Funny)
You mean like in 1984, where the government was quite explicitly and openly spying on everyone, and sometimes the spook spying on you would speak directly to you if you weren't being a good enough citizen? Yeah that'd be sooo much better.
This happens already. You've seen those people in black or blue uniforms outside, right? Sometimes they wear tan or brown, if they patrol "highways". Sometimes they go "undercover". Sometimes they walk into ATT's international data routing center and install an entire hidden floor in the building.
Re:Law enforcement thinks they're above the law. (Score:5, Funny)
Whenever I tell someone I actuall do that they always start to wonder what I have to hide
Do they have curtains covering their windows? What do they have to hide?
Re:Law enforcement thinks they're above the law. (Score:1, Funny)
Steganography. Work out a code to talk to your friends: it's fun! Buy cheap pay-as-you-go phones and throw them away when you've used up the minutes. See how long it takes the FBI to catch on!
Re:Oblig. IP jokes. (Score:2, Funny)
I am pretty sure I remember seeing a post-it notes exception clause in the Constitution pertaining to telecom.
Re:"LAW ENFORCEMENT" (Score:5, Funny)
Break the law, go to jail!
I find your ideas fascinating, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Re:Oblig. IP jokes. (Score:3, Funny)
Let's not confuse this with a bad cop who breaks both of a man's knees to get a confession, then calls it a "hunch".
That's true, because to be honest, my real hunch was that I'd only have to break one of his knees to get him to say whatever I wanted. I was wrong, I admit it.