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FBI Wants To Access Terror Suspect's Skype Records (bostonglobe.com)
Milton J. Valencia, reporting for BostonGlobe: The FBI is investigating whether a third, unknown person discussed an alleged terrorism plot with Alexander Ciccolo, the Western Massachusetts man accused of planning to attack a state university with guns and explosives on behalf of the Islamic State terror group. FBI Special Agent Jeffrey J. Lawrence said in an affidavit filed in US District Court in Springfield last week that Ciccolo told a witness who was cooperating with the FBI that he had discussed his terrorism plans with one other person. The affidavit was part of an application for a search warrant authorities filed with the court. Officials are seeking access to Ciccolo's online Skype account as part of their investigation into the alleged terror plot. The search warrant seeks to have Microsoft -- which owns Skype -- provide the government with logs and the content of conversations and written messages made on Ciccolo's account, as well as passwords. Given Microsoft's stance on these matters, the company is likely to hand over the data FBI is looking for.
Only one?
Since they throw away burner phones after use, I'm sue they create a new Skype account as well each time they use it.
The FBI requested chat logs; that doesn't mean that Microsoft actually has them. Having seen subpoenas and such (guess the "and such") to ISPs/telcos before, they always request everything they can think of, but that's just the request. It is perfectly legal to reply with "the requested data is not available."
Companies are called on all the time to assist law enforcement. Every time you hear about a security camera catching a crime in the vicinity, that's a business owner helping law enforcement. This is a non-story. The FBI is doing what they're supposed to do. Obtained a warrant, they're asking a company to turn over records. If the company has no such data, they simply respond those records don't exist. If they do and they're able to provide them without a major financial burden to the company then there's no reason they shouldn't be handed over. When it's illegal is when NSA, FBI, DHS, etc. try to strong arm companies when they have no warrant and just expect said companies to comply to help stop the a) terrorists b) pedophiles c) current enemy of the state of the day Anyone from groups a and b should be stopped by all legal means available, but the problem is when we start skirting the legal system to catch the really bad guys, it makes it easier and easier to use those tactics to go after the not-so-bad guys, then eventually abuse of the average populace to "keep them in line" and make sure they never become bad guys.