News Verizon is Listening
posted by on October 16 at 7:50 AM
The Washington Post reports that Verizon turned over phone and internet records to the federal authorities in 720 instances where the government did not provide a court order.
The information came to light in a letter Verizion sent to Congressional Democrats this week. The Democrats are investigating the extent of the Bush Administration’s surveillance program.
The letter also revealed that the Feds tried to get much more:
Verizon also disclosed that the FBI, using administrative subpoenas, sought information identifying not just a person making a call, but all the people that customer called, as well as the people those people called. Verizon does not keep data on this “two-generation community of interest” for customers, but the request highlights the broad reach of the government’s quest for data.
It’s a little annoying that the Post article doesn’t define an “administrative subpoena” more clearly or even explain how one is obtained, but the implication seems to be that there’s no oversight or check on the government’s demands for telecom records.
I've got nothing to hyde. Do you?
It's just the good guys protecting us.
In our own interest.
I have Verizon. This doesn't bother me.
All it would take is a typo or a wrong number and suddenly you're a terrorist. It bothers me a little.
Just think of them as oral historians.
#1 -- Dr. Jekyll has nothing to "hyde".
Neither do I, but let's hear it for Qwest, who balked at turning over their records to the sniff-hounds of governmental nosiness.
@2
In the long run, it should.
To anyone who has "nothing to hide:"
Do your windows have curtains?
May I see your credit card statement?
Does the carpet match the drapes?
What types of sex toys do you own?
May I see your browser history?
Can I read your mail? Oh look, a letter from your mother, what does it say?
Shouldn't everyone be entitled to some privacy? Shouldn't our private conversations with others remain just that?
Do your windows have curtains?
No. Blinds. And they're usually open.
May I see your credit card statement?
It's all Amazon, Ritz, and bar tabs.
Does the carpet match the drapes?
No.
What types of sex toys do you own?
None. Sex toys don't do anything but make me laugh.
May I see your browser history?
It's all Slog, Gmail, DailyKos, Drudge, and IMDb.
Can I read your mail? Oh look, a letter from your mother, what does it say?
That dad hates me, Grandma is dead, my sister killed another fetus, and God is still waiting for me to talk to him.
Shouldn't everyone be entitled to some privacy? Shouldn't our private conversations with others remain just that?
Totally. But that's not going to happen, so I might as well have some fun with this no-privacy thing.
Mr. Poe... You can stop referring to me by number, since you know perfectly well who I am.
Sorry. I'm used to doing @#. Forgive me.
@9, don't believe @10...
Why do they hate our Freedoms so?
#2 you are right about #6. That was unbelievably rude. Sheesh.
The title would be more correct as "Verizon is Listing" not "Listening" They provided lists of numbers, websites, and names, but as far as I read, no transcripts or tapes.
Not that Josh would ever want to give a misleading impression...
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