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Feds Warrantlessly Tracking Americans' Real Time Credit Card Activity

Posted by Soulskill on from the enjoy-knowing-the-exact-minute-i-eat-lunch dept.

PatPending writes "A 10-page Powerpoint presentation (PDF) that security and privacy analyst Christopher Soghoian recently obtained through a Freedom of Information Act Request to the Department of Justice reveals that law enforcement agencies routinely seek and obtain real-time surveillance of credit card transactions. The government's guidelines reveal that this surveillance often occurs with a simple subpoena, thus sidestepping any Fourth Amendment protections."

3 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. A records subpoena is a court order. by blair1q · · Score: 4, Informative

    Business records are not your personal "papers and effects", so they don't really live under the 4th amendment, but even if they did they're covered because subpoenas of records are issued by the court; they're merely requested by the prosecutor. This is a non-issue.

  2. Re:Anyone is a potential terrorist, get used to it by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    You can have privacy, it's just getting a lot more expensive to do so.

    Here are some steps for you.

    1 - cash only. Yes kiddies, saving for and buying your item.
    2 - Used only. This one works really well. Buying used from a private party leaves no paper trail.
    3 - when presed for information give randomized false information. Giving the same false info builds a profile. Use incredibly common names, large apartment complexes as address, etc..
    4 - Dress to blend in. Honestly, you need to be forgettable and blend in. You cant have a 4 foot tall bright red mohawk and expect privacy.
    5 - Keep your mouth shut. Loose lips sink ships and give away your information.
    6 - reassess and reevaluate your practices regularly. Keeps you from getting sloppy.

    Is it easy? not a chance, it sucks. But it also works if you want to be "invisible". And that is exactly what you need to do. Live as if you are on the run and need to hide.
    That said, I know people that live that way, but most of them are nutty.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. Re:I write my own, thank you by blair1q · · Score: 4, Informative

    It always was. A subpoena is a demand for a witness to appear or for the delivery of records. If it's for a witness the court doesn't get involved before the subpoena is served. If it's for records from someone who isn't a party to the case the court issues the subpoena.

    You are protected by the 4th amendment. Information other people have about you, who aren't your lawyer or your immedate family, is not.