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When It Comes To Spy Gear, Many Police Ignore Public Records Laws

Posted by timothy on from the muck-rocks! dept.

v3rgEz writes What should take precedence: State public records laws, or contractual agreements between local police, the FBI, and the privately owned Harris Corporation? That's the question being played out across the country, as agencies are strongly divided on releasing much information, if any, on how they're using Stingray technology to collect and monitor phone metadata without judicial oversight.

6 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The Constitution is Clear - Tenth Amendment by currently_awake · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Illegal terms in a contract are null and void. Any contract requiring illegal activity is not a legal (enforceable) contract. It's sad that police are not experts on the law, it's worse that we have no way to force them to follow/obey the law.

  2. Silly rabbit by penguinoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Laws are for the little people.

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  3. No prosecutor is going to rock the boat by schwit1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is real life - not Law & Order. The prosecutor can do little if he alienates the police and feds. To that end his ambition will ALWAYS trump the law or his oath.

    1. Re:No prosecutor is going to rock the boat by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

      To that end his ambition will ALWAYS trump the law or his oath.

      That is what the voters want. They will vote for the guy endorsed by the police over someone who was merely ethical. If you want things to change, look for who the police endorse, and then vote for the other guy. Convince others to do the same. The police should not be allowed to choose their political masters.

  4. Re:The Constitution is Clear - Tenth Amendment by radarskiy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Just because they conflict with public record laws doesn't make the terms illegal."

    That is *literally* what the word "illegal" means.

    Your example is irrelevant because it is a conflict between to contracts, not a contract and a law.

  5. Re: In other news... by ad454 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Interested comment from an Anonymous Coward, who is too scared to stand behind their words.

    The fact is that numerous polls in many countries including the USA show that there is unfortunately significant public support for increasing police powers and decreasing oversight.

    Keep in mind that these same idiots also vote for the same corrupt politicians from the same corrupt parties as well.

    When the sheeple finally reach their breaking point and have enough, they end up supporting whatever nut cases can best sell them the simplest counter-production solution which best promotes the fantasy that they can have their cake and eat it too. (Think USA rightist tea parties and Greek syriza leftists.)