Sprint gives over ALL YOUR information to Police - 8 million times!

[loren646]

Christopher Soghoian, a graduate student at Indiana University's School of Informatics and Computing, has made public an audio recording of Sprint/Nextel's Electronic Surveillance Manager describing how his company has provided GPS location data about its wireless customers to law enforcement over 8 million times. That's potentially millions of Sprint/Nextel customers who not only were probably unaware that their wireless provider even had an Electronic Surveillance Department, but who certainly did not know that law enforcement offers could log into a special Sprint Web portal and, without ever having to demonstrate probable cause to a judge, gain access to geolocation logs detailing where they've been and where they are.


Through a mix of documents unearthed by Freedom of Information Act requests and the aforementioned recording, Soghoian describes how "the government routinely obtains customer records from ISPs detailing the telephone numbers dialed, text messages, emails and instant messages sent, web pages browsed, the queries submitted to search engines, and geolocation data, detailing exactly where an individual was located at a particular date and time."
The fact that federal, state, and local law enforcement can obtain communications "metadata"—URLs of sites visited, e-mail message headers, numbers dialed, GPS locations, etc.—without any real oversight or reporting requirements should be shocking, but it isn't. The courts ruled in 2005 that law enforcement doesn't need to show probable cause to obtain your physical location via the cell phone grid. All of the aforementioned metadata can be accessed with an easy-to-obtain pen register/trap & trace order. But given the volume of requests, it's hard to imagine that the courts are involved in all of these.

Soghoian's lengthy post makes at least two important points, the first of which is that there are no reliable statistics on the real volume and scope of government surveillance because such numbers are either not published (sometimes in violation of the legally mandated reporting requirements) or they contain huge gaps. The second point is that the lack of reporting makes it difficult to determine just how involved the courts actually are in all of this, in terms of whether these requests are all backed by subpoenas.
Underlying both of these issues is the fact that Sprint has made it so easy for law enforcement to gain access to customer data on a 24/7 basis through the use of its Web portal and large compliance department. Regarding the latter, here's another quote from Paul Taylor, the aforementioned Sprint/Nextel Electronic Surveillance Manager:
"In the electronic surveillance group at Sprint, I have 3 supervisors. 30 ES techs, and 15 contractors. On the subpoena compliance side, which is anything historical, stored content, stored records, is about 35 employees, maybe 4-5 supervisors, and 30 contractors. There's like 110 all together."

All of those people are there solely to serve up customer data to law enforcement, and other comments by Taylor indicate that his staff will probably grow. Sprint only recently made the GPS data available through the Web portal, and that has caused the number of requests to go through the roof. The company apparently plans on expanding the menu of surveillance options that are accessible via the Web. Taylor again:

"[M]y major concern is the volume of requests. We have a lot of things that are automated but that's just scratching the surface. One of the things, like with our GPS tool. We turned it on the web interface for law enforcement about one year ago last month, and we just passed 8 million requests. So there is no way on earth my team could have handled 8 million requests from law enforcement, just for GPS alone. So the tool has just really caught on fire with law enforcement. They also love that it is extremely inexpensive to operate and easy, so, just [because of] the sheer volume of requests they anticipate us automating other features, and I just don't know how we'll handle the millions and millions of requests that are going to come in."

I'm sure they'll find some way to deal with the "millions and millions" of warrantless surveillance requests, and no one will bother to even curb the practice, much less stop it. I've been reporting on this exact metadata/surveillance issue for years now, and it just gets worse. The stressed, jobless, indebted public doesn't care, and Congress doesn't either. If I'm still on this beat in 5 years, I'm sure I'll still be rewriting this same story for the thousandth time.





http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/...lion-times.ars

[Unknown Zone]

It does not suprise me one bit, and is really no big deal I am not doing nothing illegal anyway, that is why I can sleep everynight.

i am pretty sure most of the request were for 911/missing person/abuse/supects...etc.

[Pele2048]

Originally Posted by Unknown Zone

It does not suprise me one bit, and is really no big deal I am not doing nothing illegal anyway, that is why I can sleep everynight.

i am pretty sure most of the request were for 911/missing person/abuse/supects...etc.

Would you consent to random searches of your house because you're not doing anything illegal?

How about when they decide to mail you a speeding ticket because the GPS data from your phone told them you were doing 70 in a 60 zone on the highway.

Big Brother should not be watching me all the time.

[Unknown Zone]

Originally Posted by Pele2048

Would you consent to random searches of your house because you're not doing anything illegal?

How about when they decide to mail you a speeding ticket because the GPS data from your phone told them you were doing 70 in a 60 zone on the highway.

Big Brother should not be watching me all the time.

It just like having a surprise inspection in the military, just have everything squared way and you are good to go.

sure, I have no problem with them as long as they dont do it in the middle of the night...I have nothing to hide....I let them search my car..etc. every time I cross the checkpoint here in south texas when they ask, sure I get upset cause it just waist my time and delays my arrival but I an not worried about going to jail when they do it.

if they search my house and I go to jail for having illegals...drugs...bomb making material ....etc, well that is one less criminal off the streets or neighborhood and i have no one to blame but myself cause i took that path and i bet you would not have any issues with that if i was your next door neighbor.

now as for the ticket, you are just talking crazy talk and pulling stuff out of you know where....they would need more proof then just the gps data like a picture and that is not happening even you know that.

remember you are not forced to live in the usa, so if you rather live in another country because your upset that your rights are being misused..go ahead you can do it either by boat/plane/ or car...i am staying here in the good ole usa.

[HBOOT]

some traveling outside won't hurt a bit dog. There some places where you can live at peace without worrying bout as much corrupt politicians, healthcare debate BS, economy, wars, nucs....and isht. Place look like the ole British empire dog. I dont want any mo fo phuking eavesdropping on anyone unless there is a due process in place or some situation.
I am for peace, security and that. But these phuks are air-head man, not all but quiet a few Incompetent people at the wrong position. Look at the latest security breach at the State dinner..Come one man, we gotta get serious about our future, it depends on now.

[frazell]

Originally Posted by Unknown Zone

lol...why do you need to be extra careful....doing something illegal...going to kill someone in the next couple of days, jacking a bank...are you a terrorist...dont want to give out your next attack.

now days with post 911, this type of electronic survellance is just accected in todays world, well for me it is..and to tell you the truth I am glad they are doing this....we have no idea if it has saved lifes everyday or a business from being robbed or even a person from being killed...etc.

I am pretty sure the keyword "terrorist" got flagged somewhere in the internet world, but again, i accept this post 911 world we live in and will not be losing sleep over it and you should not neither.

It is people like you that are pushing the rapid end of this country. That is the first thing I always hear told to us as to why we should blindly accept the extreme powers government now exerts against us, the citizens. It is in our best interest to "keep out Terrorists." No one still has clearly, and by clearly I mean legally, offered an extremely limited definition of a terrorist and put in safeguards to ensure only that group is subject to this reversal of the bill of rights.

The part that is most terrifying that is never talked about is the implications this has for the country going forward. The US Constitution opens with this famous line "We the people of the United States" (emphasis mine) for a very important reason. The uniqueness of our form of government is it is an entity created by its citizens, for its citizens. Meaning the people are the master and the government is their creation and servant. This post-9/11 world, as you call it, has resulted in a usurpation of power by government.

We have quickly become a country where the government views its citizens as criminals. We all have to be monitored in an ever increasing manner because the terrorist can be anyone of us. With government wielding ever expanding power and it seeing us as its greatest threat we are on a very disastrous crash course. We can't have a proper functioning democracy without the protection of the basics rights that we have crafted over the last 200 years.

Without a severe correction this country cannot sustain itself in this state. We are setting ourselves up for either another civil war, overthrowing of our government, or conversion to some form of dictatorship. There just is no other outcome on this path.

Originally Posted by Unknown Zone

It just like having a surprise inspection in the military, just have everything squared way and you are good to go.

sure, I have no problem with them as long as they dont do it in the middle of the night...I have nothing to hide....I let them search my car..etc. every time I cross the checkpoint here in south texas when they ask, sure I get upset cause it just waist my time and delays my arrival but I an not worried about going to jail when they do it.

if they search my house and I go to jail for having illegals...drugs...bomb making material ....etc, well that is one less criminal off the streets or neighborhood and i have no one to blame but myself cause i took that path and i bet you would not have any issues with that if i was your next door neighbor.

now as for the ticket, you are just talking crazy talk and pulling stuff out of you know where....they would need more proof then just the gps data like a picture and that is not happening even you know that.

remember you are not forced to live in the usa, so if you rather live in another country because your upset that your rights are being misused..go ahead you can do it either by boat/plane/ or car...i am staying here in the good ole usa.

The 4th Amendment along with the whole Bill of Rights were enacted for a very straightforward reason. No citizen should live in perpetual fear that the government is constantly watching them with a threat of prosecution for crimes. Laws change and what is legal today might not be tomorrow.

There is a historical reason for that amendment. When our country broke away from the United Kingdom with our Declaration of Independence one of the chief reasons was the "show trials" that the king would have. Making every inch of their lives subject to criminal punishment from the government and in effect turning the police and judiciary into a tool of oppression.

To make you understand my basic point more clearly. I think it is important that you re-read the Declaration of Independence. Keep in mind the argument that Thomas Jefferson made against the King of England and the warning he laid to our newly forming Congress.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

I added minor emphasis, but you really need to read the whole paragraph and document to get the proper understanding.

Also, where do you also get the authority to revoke US citizenship and grant citizenship in foreign countries? I'm not sure what planet you live on but I don't know of any industrialized country in the world today that just lets anyone in. So, in reality, no you can't just "pack up and leave"... Americans aren't considered refugees...

Even more troubling though is your desire to rid the country of dissenting opinions. Our democracy flourishes when all ideas are put on the table without fear of retribution. This country is the country of all its citizens not a select few.

Sorry for the long post!

[HBOOT]

democracy is a cool concept on paper, see how it is lived and it becomes just a word in this world.

[brent281]

Originally Posted by frazell

Without a severe correction this country cannot sustain itself in this state. We are setting ourselves up for either another civil war, overthrowing of our government, or conversion to some form of dictatorship. There just is no other outcome on this path.

you are kidding me right, are you talking about the USA? overthrowing of government? you do know we elect government officials? also, i can imagine this civil war you talk about, cell phone users around the united states will band together to take on law enforcement, firing muskets at each other until one surrenders.

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by Pele2048

Would you consent to random searches of your house because you're not doing anything illegal?

How about when they decide to mail you a speeding ticket because the GPS data from your phone told them you were doing 70 in a 60 zone on the highway.

Big Brother should not be watching me all the time.

My GPS doesn't tell them if I am at the wheel. I'll just cop a plea for conspiracy to commit speeding.

Seriously. If there are searches of homes, there is reason to do them. Manpower costs money, investigations cost money, legal process costs money. Monitoring YOUR specific whereabouts.. you guessed it. Money.
How well is your area's law enforcement manned? You think they take care of every crime/call in your area? They can't and they don't. This isn't North Korea and the Amerikka this thread seems to butthurt about doesn't exist.

On the other hand, if you're a drug dealing, gang member thug type: keep looking over your shoulder. They know where you deal and where you pickup from. They know who supplies you and all the comings and goings. They track all the phones that come to your known dealing spots. Have a nice day.

[HBOOT]

very cool IMAGINOS,