Cynthia Brumfield reports: The main existing law that limits the scope of law enforcement electronic snooping violates the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution when it comes to Internet communications, a top Google expert said here today. Speaking at the Congressional Internet Caucus’ Annual State of the Internet Conference, Google’s Director of Law Enforcement and Information…
Category: Govt
Google Releases Transparency Report Showing US Surveillance Requests Up 33% in the Last Year
Trevor Timm writes: This morning, Google released their semi-annual transparency report, and once again, it revealed a troubling trend: Internet surveillance around the world continues to rise, with the United States leading the way in demands for user data. Google received over 21,000 requests for data on over 33,000 users in the last six months from governments around…
FBI Documents Shine Light on Clandestine Cellphone Tracking Tool
I’ve covered Stingray before, but the general public really really needs to become more aware of its use. Ryan Gallagher reports: The FBI calls it a “sensitive investigative technique” that it wants to keep secret. But newly released documents that shed light on the bureau’s use of a controversial cellphone tracking technology called the “Stingray”…
Minn. driver’s license data snoopers are difficult to track
Eric Roper of The Star Tribune has been all over the problems with rampant misuse of the Minnesota driver’s license database. In another report yesterday, he focused on the difficulties of finding out who is accessing citizen’s files: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, which oversees the driver’s license database, refuses to tell people the…