funsec mailing list archives
[privacy] Who's buying cell phone records online? Cops
From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () bsf-llc com>
Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 08:31:43 -0400
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12534959/ Who's buying cell phone records online? Cops Net sellers tell Congress they supply law enforcement officials with call lists By Bob Sullivan Technology correspondent MSNBC Updated: 3:52 a.m. ET May 1, 2006 A congressional panel investigating the fraudulent acquisition and sale of mobile phone records by Internet Web firms has collected evidence that indicates law enforcement officials at the local, state and federal levels use the Internet-based services as an investigative short-cut, MSNBC.com has learned. At least one Web-based data seller has told Congress that the FBI is a client. The phone records are generally acquired by the resellers through fraudulent means and would not be admissible in court as evidence, but they are still helpful as an investigative tool, say officials familiar with the investigation. The alleged use of the customer records by law enforcement officials could raise legal and ethical questions, as it would circumvent due process and years of established laws protecting consumers from random eavesdropping on electronic communications. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee are looking into the fraudulent acquisition of consumer cell phone records by private investigators and online data sellers - an issue that exploded into the public sphere earlier this year after a blogger was able to purchase cell phone records of former presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark. But the business was thriving online long for years before that, with hundreds of Web sites advertising that they could obtain anyone's cell phone records for about $100. The committee is attempting to learn who's selling the cell phone records, and who's buying. FBI says it looks to private firms for help As part of its inquiry, the committee has asked dozens of Web sellers to reveal their customers lists. MSNBC.com has viewed one such list, and spoken with several other data sellers. One seller, Advanced Research Inc., which operates ADVSearch.com, told the committee that it has sold data to the FBI. "On occasion, ARI (Advanced Research) has done work for municipalities, banks, mortgage and insurance companies, private companies, foreign governments, law enforcement, even the FBI," ARI's letter to Congress said. ... _______________________________________________ privacy mailing list privacy () whitestar linuxbox org http://www.whitestar.linuxbox.org/mailman/listinfo/privacy
Current thread:
- [privacy] Who's Buying Cell Phone Records Online? Cops Fergie (May 03)
- Re: [privacy] Who's Buying Cell Phone Records Online? Cops Dude VanWinkle (May 03)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- [privacy] Who's buying cell phone records online? Cops Richard M. Smith (May 03)
- Re: [privacy] Who's Buying Cell Phone Records Online? Cops Fergie (May 04)