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Feds Have Access To Cellphone Tracking On Request

Mike writes "According to a Washington Post article, federal officials are routinely asking and getting courts to order cellphone companies to furnish real-time tracking data on subscribers. The data is used to pinpoint the whereabouts of 'criminal suspects', according to judges and industry lawyers. In some cases, judges have granted the requests without even requiring the government to demonstrate probable cause that a crime is taking place or that the inquiry will yield evidence of a crime 'Privacy advocates fear such a practice may expose average Americans to a new level of government scrutiny of their daily lives. Such requests run counter to the Justice Department's internal recommendation that federal prosecutors seek warrants based on probable cause to obtain precise location data in private areas. The requests and orders are sealed at the government's request, so it is difficult to know how often the orders are issued or denied.'"

4 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. This just in by pwnies · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...and in unrelated news, Reynolds America Inc. ( http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=RAI ) reported a rise in their stock price following record sales in their aluminium and tin foil divisions.

  2. Re:Can we just have a revolution and get it over w by garbletext · · Score: 1, Funny

    duh, he posted about it on slashdot. and maybe his blog.

  3. Re:Listen up by garbletext · · Score: 4, Funny

    As a radical drug-dealing terrorist pedophile, I have to disagree.

  4. Re:Wow by sumdumass · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey now, don't raise a voice of reason just yet. It is too early in the thread. If you point something insightful like this out, you might deny someone the chance for a mindless rant and bashing session. They might explode!

    Do you want to be know as the guy who made someone explode? Somebody do humanity a favor and mod this down for another ten minute or so.

    If you didn't get the tongue in cheek there, Good point.