FBI Rejects Freedom of Information Act Request About Carrier IQ

bonch writes with news that website Muckrock recently sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI asking for "manuals, documents or other written guidance used to access or analyze data gathered by programs developed or deployed by Carrier IQ." The Bureau has now responded with a rejection of the request, claiming an exemption applies because such documents "could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings." While many have been quick to assume the worst, the Muckrock article says it's unclear "whether the FBI used Carrier IQ's software to in its own investigations, whether it is currently investigating Carrier IQ, or whether it is some combination of both - not unlikely given the recent uproar over the practice coupled with the U.S. intelligence communities reliance on third-party vendors."

It's about to get worse!

[the linux geek]

The new National Defense Authorization Act contains an amendment allowing the military the authority to detain American citizens, on American soil, indefinitely and without access to an attorney. The President has said he'll veto it; write to him and hold him to it! This has wide bipartisan support, and while I'm typically hesitant of doomsaying about America becoming a police state, this is the legal codification of one!

http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/NDAA [aclu.org]

Re:Does it really matter ?

[Synerg1y]

People, there is a path here...

http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-all-things-root/459292-how-do-i-remove-carrier-iq-software.html [androidforums.com]

Rom your phone, walla no more carrier ifucked.

It's little things like this why the art of hacking is not all lost despite the American social media's mass confusion.

Re:Data logging

[rsborg]

If the FBI is using Carrier IQ data for investigative purposes, doesn't that call into question the earlier claim from security researchers that Carrier IQ isn't logging data [slashdot.org]?

If you read closely, you'll see that Carrier IQ's argument relies heavily on that data never hitting their servers. The fact that their keylogger-capable malware allows the carrier to extract that info, and consequently hand it to the FBI, is "not their fault" [1].

[1] http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/12/08/carrier-iq-interview [daringfireball.net]

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:I'm stunned

[erroneus]

But when the FBI/CIA/NSA or some other TLA requests details of a carrier's customer, they PAY for it. Were you not here when there were massive discussions about the release of a carrier's price list for law enforcement and the services they offered to them? Law enforcement doesn't have to get a warrant or a subpoena, they just fill out an order form, check the appropriate boxes and send payment. It's not "law." It's commerce.

Re:I'm stunned

[Luckyo]

Notably, both Stalin's regime and entire Stasi organisation have been significantly less successful at monitoring people. We long past the point where even those comparisons in terms of monitoring would be appropriate. To try to whine about Putin, who actually failed at any significant monitoring of his people (as in comparison to both above) shows extreme depth of ignorance in the subject. As it stands now, top countries in terms of monitoring their citizens are located in the West, and the gap between them and others is more of a huge chasm.

Re:Apple Logo

[jonwil]

Google didn't put it in Android but a number of Android OEMs ARE using CarrierIQ, mostly at the behest of carriers like AT&T who said "include CarrierIQ or we wont sell your new phone"

Re:Stallman Was Right

[Anonymous Coward]

The FCC has came out and said rooting an iPhone is legal.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/feds-ok-iphone-jailbreaking/

I take them a more authoritative on the matter then a random slashdot poster.