FBI Obtains Phone Records With a Post-it Note

angry tapir writes "The FBI was so cavalier — and telecom companies so eager to help — that a verbal request or even one written on a Post-it note was enough for operators to hand over customer phone records, according to a damning report (PDF) released on Wednesday by the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General."

Comments

Re:Law enforcement thinks they're above the law.

[timmarhy]

there is nothing illegal about a service provider handing over their own data - which is exactly what this is. you don't own the phone records, the phone company does.

there's no law against responding to a request from the FBI of your own accord.

does it suck that society has gotten to the point that no one is willing to stick up for anyone else? yes, but this is not illegal.

the only solution is if you paranoid enough about it, only make encrypted IP phone calls from internet cafes.