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US Post Office Increases Secret Tracking of Mail
HughPickens.com writes: Ron Nixon reports in the NY Times that the United States Postal Service says it approved nearly 50,000 requests last year from law enforcement agencies and its own internal inspection unit to secretly monitor the mail of Americans for use in criminal and national security investigations, in many cases without adequately describing the reason or having proper written authorization. In addition to raising privacy concerns, the audit questioned the efficiency and accuracy of the Postal Service in handling the requests. The surveillance program, officially called mail covers, is more than a century old, but is still considered a powerful investigative tool. The Postal Service said that from 2001 through 2012, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies made more than 100,000 requests to monitor the mail of Americans. That would amount to an average of some 8,000 requests a year — far fewer than the nearly 50,000 requests in 2013 that the Postal Service reported in the audit (PDF).
In Arizona in 2011, Mary Rose Wilcox, a Maricopa County supervisor, discovered that her mail was being monitored by the county's sheriff, Joe Arpaio. Wilcox had been a frequent critic of Arpaio, objecting to what she considered the targeting of Hispanics in his immigration sweeps. Wilcox sued the county, was awarded nearly $1 million in a settlement in 2011 and received the money this June when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling. Andrew Thomas, the former county attorney, was disbarred for his role in investigations into the business dealings of Ms. Wilcox and other officials and for other unprofessional conduct. "I don't blame the Postal Service," says Wilcox, "but you shouldn't be able to just use these mail covers to go on a fishing expedition. There needs to be more control."
In Arizona in 2011, Mary Rose Wilcox, a Maricopa County supervisor, discovered that her mail was being monitored by the county's sheriff, Joe Arpaio. Wilcox had been a frequent critic of Arpaio, objecting to what she considered the targeting of Hispanics in his immigration sweeps. Wilcox sued the county, was awarded nearly $1 million in a settlement in 2011 and received the money this June when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling. Andrew Thomas, the former county attorney, was disbarred for his role in investigations into the business dealings of Ms. Wilcox and other officials and for other unprofessional conduct. "I don't blame the Postal Service," says Wilcox, "but you shouldn't be able to just use these mail covers to go on a fishing expedition. There needs to be more control."
Tuddy (Frank DiLeo): "You know this kid?" Mailman: "Yeah." Tuddy: "You know where he lives?" Mailman: "Yeah." Tuddy: "You deliver mail to his house?" Mailman: "Yeah." Tuddy: "Well, from now on, any letter from that school to that kid's house comes directly here. You understand?" Mailman: "Yeah." Tuddy: "Another letter from that school goes to that kid's house, in the bleeping oven you're gonna go, head first." Henry: "That was it. No more letters from truant officers. No more letters from school. In fact, no more letters from anybody. Finally after a couple of weeks, my mother went to the post office and complain."
Wilcox sued the county, was awarded nearly $1 million in a settlement in 2011
I assume it came out of the salaries of the officials responsible for the mail tracking?
We listed the government agencies that do not spy on us in illegal, unconstitutional, and downright wrong ways...
Peter.
if you don't want to be tracked you may want to choose a competitor who will not provide your data to the government that way.
Yes, I am sure that UPS and FedEx will defend my privacy with their lives. Are you aware of a competitor who is unlikely to provide my data to the government?
The first class mail delivery has to be opened to the competition, the USPS has a monopoly on it
What would be the point of doing this? To get better mail rates as long as you live in one of the top-10 major cities?
Yes, I am sure that UPS and FedEx will defend my privacy with their lives. Are you aware of a competitor who is unlikely to provide my data to the government?
- they are not a government agency by default and they have to provide their clients with service that clients will appreciate, which means in many cases yes, defending your privacy sometimes with their freedom.
What would be the point of doing this? To get better mail rates as long as you live in one of the top-10 major cities?
- precisely. If you live on a farm somewhere you are not entitled to have your services subsidised by people who live in the cities. You shouldn't be subsidised regardless where you live, regardless for what the reasons are, regardless of who you are.
You can't handle the truth.
Next week's your big chance. Use it or lose it... All these "scandals" have been coming fast &furious. Let's see if it means anything. Clean the House, if you want it to. If not, I got a bucket of tomatoes just waiting for the first complainers.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Seems like Joe Arpaio is the J Edgar Hoover of Arizona. What a piece of work that guy is.
- precisely. If you live on a farm somewhere you are not entitled to have your services subsidised by people who live in the cities. You shouldn't be subsidised regardless where you live, regardless for what the reasons are, regardless of who you are.
Did you know that the Federal Government's authority to build highways comes exclusively from their enumerated power To establish Post offices and post Roads;
/While we're at it, let's undo rural electrification and telephone programs too
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!
which means in many cases yes, defending your privacy sometimes with their freedom.
Both of your references link to Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio which is hardly "many cases". Rather, this is one case, where the only person to stand up against government surveillance spent 6 years in prison (plus lost his job and a lot of money paying for lawyers before that). I assume the clear lesson here is that he may be the last one to do something like this.
"The first class mail delivery has to be opened to the competition, the USPS has a monopoly on it,"
Really? you cant send stuff via UPS or FedEx or DHL? Hmmm, I wonder how those letters I sent via FedEx got sent then.... Did they open them up and then drop them in the US Mail?
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
It's like Wikileaks never happened. Despite the public outrage, despite the revelation that the spying achieved nothing the politicians (so far in Australia and now Canada) have responded with even more spying, plus legal oversight to crush future whistle blowers. Undermining our commercial systems whilst imposing the presumption of guilt on our citizens whilst authorities everywhere say "Papers please".
This is what our tax dollars are paying for.
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
FACT: government already HAS a role in all of the things that you mentioned! Open your eyes!
Well it's the problem, isn't it? The fact is that yes, the government took over and usurped all the various powers that it is not actually authorised to have and it 'has a role' in all of that, as in it has fingers in all of it, actually more likely like hands, it's swimming in all of it.
It shouldn't, that's my point, there shouldn't be any government involvement in our private lives at all, there shouldn't be any government involvement in anything beyond the very basic protection against invasion and that's it.
You can't handle the truth.
There are plenty of package deliever companies, that exist, and I don't think that any one of them would want to start a letter delievery company. The USPS looses lots of money on it, because of a dramatic decline in the amount of money that exists.
It says in "business" soley because it is chartered by the US Government. Speaking of Which, the Post Office is the only economic business activity authorized by dirrectly by the US constitution to run, and it does so as a service.
Then we get to the next item, privacy. You are pretty foolish if an American company would not be expected to search packages, or let government agents search packages at their request. You are also a bit of a fool to think that most wouldn't just silently co-operate, or that a corporation could actually do something if served with an FBI letter that says "co-operate and shut your mouth".
Corporation Charters are given out by the US government, and they have all the personal information on all of its officers to apply the right amount of pressure.
Its also foolish to think that even if they had a specific ability to, the government has spies, armies, etc, that a corporation does not have, and if they did, they'd become the government.
I think what's fair is that the constitution does have an interstate commerce clause, and if you think about it, all commerce is interstate in some way because some ingredients may be from other states or something else. so everything is constitutional probably.
It all started with George Washington and that damned Cumberland Highway. If he hadn't set a precedent of using money from outside of the actual area where the highway was built, the government wouldn't have gotten in the way of free enterprise which would have certainly built a toll road there. Redistribution of wealth by the government has happened ever since and I lay this precedent firmly at the feet of our first president!!!
Federal government shouldn't have any authority to build any highways, it also shouldn't have authority to establish post offices that are monopolies at the very least (so are highways).
There shouldn't be any government involvement in electrification or telephones either, health, insurance, transportation, energy of any kind, education, pretty much anything.
Can you give us the list of successful countries that do as you say?
I mean it must be a big long list.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Somewhere in the neigborhood of 20% of our country has no UPS or FedEx. Both of those companies rely on the USPS to deliver for them since they would make no money doing it themselves. If the mail system were privatized there would be a lot of this country where there wouldn't be any mail since it would be a money losing venture.
Luckily the foundation of the USPS was considered vital enough for our republic that its establishment is in the constitution.
Well it's the problem, isn't it? The fact is that yes, the government took over and usurped all the various powers that it is not actually authorised to have and it 'has a role' in all of that, as in it has fingers in all of it, actually more likely like hands, it's swimming in all of it.
It shouldn't, that's my point, there shouldn't be any government involvement in our private lives at all, there shouldn't be any government involvement in anything beyond the very basic protection against invasion and that's it.
The problem with your drowned in a bathtub Government model, is that there are successful governments who actually do have some involvement in their citizens lives, pay for research and development, and the common good and will happily come in and take over your country. And will have the wherwithal and advanced weaponry to do it.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Adolf? Is that you? Come on now, stop the with the clowning and show yourself.
-The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.
The former County Lawyer has been disbarred.
That jackass is financial road kill.
There is no insurance for this kind of judgement. The county is on the hook. They are worse than broke, since this judgement spans bankruptcy.
That county is dead. The residence of the county are legally responsible for the debt.
Their home values are in the dumpster, and paying for the privilege.
Nice to see the legal system work.
I'm not being sarcastic, the people that have the most to loose are paying, as it should be, for a change.
will anyone learn?
My dad retired 10 years ago from the USPS. Having grown up listening to the stories of what the people and management were like there, I find any conspiracy theories with USPS being involved (on any level) questionable at best! I'm sure anyone who has ever worked for the government (local/state/federal) would agree. Both the workers and management are either too lazy or too incompetent to tie their shoes.
This story illustrates the reason why when I send mail, I don't put any names or addresses on the envelope.
You know what else? I'll bet UPS and FedEx are tracking letters and packages too! In fact, the last time I sent something, they accidentally printed the tracking number right on my receipt. They must really think I'm stupid, but I'm not. I'm smart.
You are welcome on my lawn.
It shouldn't, that's my point, there shouldn't be any government involvement in our private lives at all, there shouldn't be any government involvement in anything beyond the very basic protection against invasion and that's it.
You are welcome to your ideology, but it's almost completely unsupported by the ideals behind the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
Honestly, it sounds like you're living in the wrong country, but I can't say I know of one that meets your desires.
The countries with no *de facto "involvement in anything beyond the very basic protection against invasion,"
are all so incredibly weak... that they cannot provide even a minimal protection against invasion.
*AFAIK, there's no country with a de jure state of affairs that you'd enjoy.
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!
Correct, which is why I don't live in any of them. Multiple flag method, banking separate from business, separate from residence, separate from income, separate from vacations and so on. There are a number of places where I feel more comfortable, but basically I always look at the place I am at specifically from that point of view: how much freedom does it want to steal from me? Some places are much worse than others, different places concentrate on stealing different types of freedoms.
You can't handle the truth.
With his basic contempt for his fellow Americans and blatant disregard for the Constitution, it is incredible that Maricopa County keeps re-electing Joe Arpaio. It's unsurprising he would try to intercept the mail of his critics.
On vit, on code et puis on meurt.
roman_mir is an anarchist. There's no point arguing with him. Just be happy that he's a small, powerless minority, and if he were through some miracle ever able to achieve his goals, he'd be happy for like a day before someone shot him to take his stuff.
Fedex, and UPS have both gotten into trouble with the USPS over their letter deliveries. The trick is that 'first class mail' doesn't mean all mail. Next day, maybe second day air is legal. Even then some businesses were investigated for sending 'everything' fedex, even if it didn't need to be there that quickly.
What you won't see in the USA as long as the USPS maintains it's legislated monopoly is the equivalent of a UPS Ground Letter. Because that would compete with first class.
I don't read AC A human right
You vote for whatever keeps balance. Like you say, both a and b are bad - so if you keep things even then neither side can implement the full extent of their evil plans.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Rather, this is one case, where the only person to stand up against government surveillance spent 6 years in prison (plus lost his job and a lot of money paying for lawyers before that).
Plus Qwest almost certainly got blacklisted from certain government contracts as a result, if what Nacchio says is true.
Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
*AFAIK, there's no country with a de jure state of affairs that you'd enjoy.
What about Dubai, the city built almost entirely by slavery? That's a libertarian paradise right there. As long as you have money you can do pretty much anything you like and get away with it. Well, money and a penis.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
If the mail system were privatized there would be a lot of this country where there wouldn't be any mail since it would be a money losing venture.
UPS and Fedex have to hand packages off to USPS because they don't have regular rural routes. But UPS and Fedex don't have regular rural routes because of the USPS monopoly on delivery to your post box. Catch 22.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
It has already been proven that if government doesn't get involved, private business won't do squat for the general population. Hint - private business isn't tasked with providing for the public good, they're in it for the money. So what you're advocating is what we see globally - extremely rich areas well served (parts of US and Europe) surrounded by extremely poor masses living in squalor. I'd say your view exists already and has failed miserably.
The cesspool just got a check and balance.
>Corporation Charters are given out by the US government,
No they are not, corporate charters are given out by State Governments.
Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 clearly gives it the right to operate a postal service and create and maintain roadways to carry the mail on.
No, because it says it has the authority to regulate interstate commerce. Regulation is not a synonym for "dictate"-- it has merely been interpreted that way.
Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
He said the government needs to provide protection against invasion, genius.
Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
YEAH BUT INTERPRETATION IS 9/10 OF THE LAW. just ask scalia who basically makes it up as he goes along. those people are the true dictators because they're in office for life and can wreak havoc like amok. all of them are gangsters: scalia, Sotomayor, Thomas. the others are ok.
Just remember you said that when you see no food in your hipster grocery store. Good luck getting that wheat crop going in the park...
not really. FedEx has delivered plenty of packages to my door. There would be nothing in stopping anyone from sending me a letter via FedEX.(except price I guess)
UPS and Fedex don't do regular routes some places because they'd loose money. Heck, the USPS looses money delivering mail. If there was no USPS, some places simply would not be able to recieve mail anymore.
There is no monopoly on where Fed Ex and UPS can deliver. But to deliver to a large chunk of America is a money losing proposition when you figure in logistics. Maintaining fleets of trucks, the cost of transport and the labor involved in supporting it is cost prohibitive.
Yet the USPS is mandated to deliver to every corner of our country even when losing money.
If you believe there is a USPS monopoly, please elaborate exactly how?
Would you believe this alleged monopoly could somehow become profitable if it were run by UPS or Fed Ex?