Suspicious Packages Spotlight Vast 'Mail Cover' Postal Surveillance System (fastcompany.com)

tedlistens writes: As law enforcement investigates possible mail bombs sent to prominent Democratic Party figures and liberal activists, the tools available at their disposal include digital images and delivery metadata commonly associated with mail sent in the United States. The U.S. Postal Service regularly photographs the front and back of every piece of U.S. mail, or about 150 billion parcels, envelopes, and postcards every year. A longstanding practice known as the "mail cover" program enables law enforcement to obtain address information and images of the outsides of mail as part of an investigation without the need for a warrant through the Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service's policing arm.

According to a report from CBS News, authorities are currently using "data analytics" to spot similar packages to those identified as containing bombs. Images of packages shared with the press show a common return address, using the misspelled name of Representative and former Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The Postal Inspection Service doesn't generally comment on its investigative techniques. As part of the mail cover program, mail is routinely digitally photographed as part of the sorting process and even available for recipients to digitally preview in some areas. Apart from threats like bombs, the department says its main focus is on mail theft, fraud, and narcotics cases.

Comments

USPS offers a service to "preview" your daily mail

[turp182]

It's called Informed Delivery. They email you images of what's arriving that day.

https://informeddelivery.usps....

My wife signed up for it, it's sort of creepy and exciting (at first).

I would assume they image everything (at least letter sized) as part of sorting.

USPS Informed Delivery - Kinda handy, actually

[Kevoco]

Go to informeddelivery.usps.com
Select "Sign Up For Free."

MAGA Bomber!!!

[bit trollent]

Surprising nobody, the person sending bombs to Democratic politicians, supporters, and media organizations is a virulently pro-Trump terrorist.

His van is covered in pro-Trump stickers, along with stickers of Democrats with gun targets on their faces.

The coverings of the terrorist's van refer to Trump's stated enemy list as well as memes shared by right wing republicans nationwide.

Is it too much to ask that Trump stop encouraging his supporters to violently attack reporters and Democrats?

Re:MAGA Bomber!!!

[cascadingstylesheet]

Surprising nobody, the person sending bombs to Democratic politicians, supporters, and media organizations is a virulently pro-Trump terrorist.

His van is covered in pro-Trump stickers, along with stickers of Democrats with gun targets on their faces.

The coverings of the terrorist's van refer to Trump's stated enemy list as well as memes shared by right wing republicans nationwide.

Is it too much to ask that Trump stop encouraging his supporters to violently attack reporters and Democrats?

Real bullets that actually work were shot at Republican lawmakers having a ball game. One was seriously wounded.

Was that Democrats' fault? Or was it just a lone nut?

Re:MAGA Bomber!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Democrats don't share pictures of republicans with gun targets on their face.

Republicans share pictures of democrats (including this weeks' bombing targets) with gun targets painted on their face.

So yes, when a lunatic does something that goes contrary to everything Dems stand for it's not Democrats fault. When a republican puts violent right wing memes spread by Trump and prominent republicans into action they deserve the blame.

Re:MAGA Bomber!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh no! My side had bombs sent to them.
Well, MY side was shot at! That's a hundred times worse.

My side, your side. Republicans. Democrats. Don't you think that's how we ended up where we are right now?

Repeat after me: "It is a tragedy when ANYONE is threatened or attacked and we, as American Citizens, should be appalled and angered every single time any violence happens to anyone. Everyone should feel safe TO SPEAK their beliefs and TO HEAR OTHERS speak their beliefs. No exceptions."

Re:MAGA Bomber!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

When was the last time a Democrat running for any office - let alone the Presidency - stood in the middle of a crowded stadium and offered up bail money for anyone arrested being violent in their name, you intellectually dishonest shithead?

Re:MAGA Bomber!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Correct - Democrats create "art" with a decapitated Trump head instead. "Art" makes it cool.

Democrats also go out and violently protest, fighting police, damaging public property, and bloodying people who wear MAGA hats. But that's just because they're so passionate about freedom and democracy and stuff.

Clearly there's a single "good" team in all of this.

Re: MAGA Bomber!!!

[jd]

That was a lone nut. We know this because he was not incited. Nobody encouraged him to be violent.

This guy was incited. Trump has specifically talked of killing people, particularly opponents. The conspiracy theories he referenced were ones promoted by Trump-backed media outlets.

You are entitled to question which incitement made the difference, who is ultimately responsible for driving him over the edge. What you aren't entitled to do is invent your own set of facts.

If you do not see any difference between the cases, I can't help you.

Re: MAGA Bomber!!!

[jd]

Terrorising? Sorry, no. That is not enough. This was a terrorist attack. A term he is keen on using when his supporters are at risk.

He is the President of the whole country or none of it. It is not enough until he calls it for what it is.

I don't expect him to admit to lying when he said earlier that it was a false flag, when he would have already been informed it wasn't. I don't think he has the guts. He can't do anything about that.

Letting him slide on diminishing and belittling terms. No.

And I expect any American to insist he calls it for what it is, whatever side they are on. One America, indivisible, cannot allow the belittling of an attrocity.

The same is true of all attacks on all sides. I am fully aware of the attack some time ago on a Republican and his friends. That, too, was a terrorist attack. Not terrorizing, not less than. Said so then, will repeat so now.

Those Republicans who have said it was a terrorist attack, good for you. You've courage and decency.

All I ask is for false flag theorists and "terrorizing" justifiers to do the decent thing. Call it for what it is.

scanning does not mean tracking

[kiviQr]

Amazing, they are the only one who cannot find or track my packages but at least the photograph both sides of every letter.

Re:USPS offers a service to "preview" your daily m

[OzPeter]

It's called Informed Delivery. They email you images of what's arriving that day.

https://informeddelivery.usps....

My wife signed up for it, it's sort of creepy and exciting (at first).

I would assume they image everything (at least letter sized) as part of sorting.

I expect that this what Netflix uses to speed up delivery of DVDs. I regularly drop a DVD in the mail and Netflix will send out the next one in my queue well before the returning DVD will have made it to their wharehouse. So on one hand creepy, on the other hand faster turn around time for their service.

The Van ...

[schwit1]

This van looks like what Steve Bannon would turn into if he was a Transformer

- Twitter

Re:How did it work, I wonder?

[Etcetera]

Did you see the van with the back windows platered over with stickers?
That van would not get a block before being pulled over and over and over again.

You seriously underestimate the amount of crazy shit that exists on a day to day basis in Florida.