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Police Are Seeking More Digital Evidence From Tech Companies (bloomberg.com)

Posted by msmash on from the growing-tension dept.

U.S. law enforcement agencies are increasingly asking technology companies for access to digital evidence on mobile phones and apps, with about 80 percent of the requests granted, a new study found. From a report: The report released Wednesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found local, state and federal law enforcement made more than 130,000 requests last year for digital evidence from six top technology companies -- Alphabet's Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, Verizon' media unit Oath and Apple. If results from telecom and cable providers Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast are added in, the number jumps to more than 660,000. The requests covered everything from the content of communications to location data and names of particular users. "The number of law enforcement requests, at least as directed at the major U.S.-based tech and telecom companies, has significantly increased over time," the Washington-based think tank found. "Yet, the response rates have been remarkably consistent."

3 of 23 comments (clear)

  1. Policework by DickBreath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How did police work ever get done before the digital age?


    Police work is easy in a police state.

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    1. Re:Policework by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 2

      How did police work ever get done before the digital age?

      Before the digital age they could get wiretaps (hello encrypted messaging/calling), warrants for papers like bookie ledgers (hello digital encrypted files), or find boxes of copied/burned music/movies.

      While the "solution" of backdoors to encryption is a non-started, it's wrong to claim there is no problem.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  2. Need of an audit trail by Alain+Williams · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Every request should have to be approved by a judge. The papers presented by the police should be kept by the courts and made public after a defined time. This would keep the police honest, stop abuse of the system. This will not be perfect, corrupt individuals in tech companies will always be willing to help, either for a fee or some other favour from the police.

    How long: 5 years maybe. In long running cases it would be open for the police to petition the court to have them kept secret for another 5 years - 3 judges would be needed to make the order for extension of time.