Secret FBI Subpoenas Scoop Up Personal Data From Scores of Companies (nytimes.com) 23
The F.B.I. has used secret subpoenas to obtain personal data from far more companies than previously disclosed, The New York Times reported Friday, citing newly released documents. From the report: The requests, which the F.B.I. says are critical to its counterterrorism efforts, have raised privacy concerns for years but have been associated mainly with tech companies. Now, records show how far beyond Silicon Valley the practice extends -- encompassing scores of banks, credit agencies, cellphone carriers and even universities. The demands can scoop up a variety of information, including usernames, locations, IP addresses and records of purchases. They don't require a judge's approval and usually come with a gag order, leaving them shrouded in secrecy. Fewer than 20 entities, most of them tech companies, have ever revealed that they've received the subpoenas, known as national security letters.
The documents, obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit and shared with The New York Times, shed light on the scope of the demands -- more than 120 companies and other entities were included in the filing -- and raise questions about the effectiveness of a 2015 law that was intended to increase transparency around them. "This is a pretty potent authority for the government," said Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas who specializes in national security. "The question is: Do we have a right to know when the government is collecting information on us?"
The documents, obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit and shared with The New York Times, shed light on the scope of the demands -- more than 120 companies and other entities were included in the filing -- and raise questions about the effectiveness of a 2015 law that was intended to increase transparency around them. "This is a pretty potent authority for the government," said Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas who specializes in national security. "The question is: Do we have a right to know when the government is collecting information on us?"
And this is just the FBI. (Score:1)
You know: The guys the NSA guys look down upon so much, they don't even help them out on big criminal cases. (Like serial killer.)
And also just the cases we got told about.
We have the right ... (Score:2)
... but we don't have the power.
Do we have a right to know when the government is collecting information on us?
Re: (Score:2)
"A republic, if you can keep it"
So, we have to take it back. And if you think your kid or your dog puts up a fight when you take its favorite toy from it, well, the State, in all its forms, will not go quietly.
Re: (Score:2)
You can't take back what you are not giving.
Re: (Score:2)
We gave them the power to do this. We need to take it back.
Start with the first box.
That All Depends (Score:3)
"Do we have a right to know when the government is collecting information on us?"
That all depends on if we're still a nation of laws or a nation of rulers who do whatever they want.
Strat
Re: (Score:2)
The iffy part is that apparently these "special" investigations require no warrant...
Re: (Score:2)
The iffy part is that apparently these "special" investigations require no warrant...
It may require a payment under the table.
Data whores are for-profit entities.
Re:That All Depends (Score:4, Insightful)
For instance during an active investigation into your actions.
And that's OK. Particularly since I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just not thrilled with the fact that suddenly some senator's nephew is underbidding me for all my contracts.
Re: (Score:2)
That's one of the lesser problems. Worse is political factions using this to spy on enemies, see who donates, see who they talk to, to take advantage of that knowledge.
To counter this, all access should be logged for review by elected officials later. No holes allowing non-logged access, or what was viewed, and no log alterations allowed either.
Build that, and a terrorist-only rule, and then we can talk.
Re: (Score:2)
"That all depends on if we're still a nation of laws or a nation of rulers who do whatever they want."
"The iffy part is that apparently these "special" investigations require no warrant...
Nothing 'iffy' about it ... warrantless searches are the hallmark of autocratic rulers. Allowing them basically says "Democracy does not apply here."
Re: (Score:2)
The real question is, when did we decide it was the government in charge and not the people?
They should need special permission to collect information on me, not the other way around. You know, like warrants.
Re: (Score:2)
About the time we were told trickle down economics will make everyone richer.
Re: That All Depends (Score:2)
"You know, like warrants."
A rubber stamp makes everything better.
Re: That All Depends (Score:2)
When the law is wicked, rule of law is less than worthless.
Why putting data in the cloud is stupid (Score:2)
If your data is on your own servers, then the NSL would have to come to you and you'd at least be aware of it.
If your data is in the cloud, then the NSL would go to the cloud provider with a gag order and you'd never be the wiser.
Secret government actions are always a problem (Score:2)
They have no oversight and universally get out of control and end up harming everybody.
How can gag orders be constitutional? (Score:2)
It seems to me that:
- A gag order denies the person on whom it is served: Free speech, recourse to due process in court, and the right to legal council.
- It also damages the reputation and business potential of, both the person/organization served, and all businesses which store confidential information for others.
- If the target is prosecuted it denies him due process resources necessary to mount a defence.
- if the target is not prosecuted it denies him knowledge that his r
Re: (Score:2)
Fourth Amendment - U.S. Constitution (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
The FBI has joined the NSA in a collect it all.
Welcome back to the PSP President's Surveillance Program https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Back to Stellar Wind" (Stellarwind) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Its like a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) but for collect it all in a more domestic legal setting