From the linked article - Sprint/Nextel provides a web interface (for LEOs) for these requests. No mention is made of what criteria is required to access this information, but the Manager of Electronic Surveillance for Sprint states that "the tool has just really caught on fire with law enforcement."
The linked article details FOI requests for the price lists that these companies have been using to charge government agencies for otherwise private and personal customer information.
I may just be extra curmudgeonly today, but so fucking what? I and others have been saying for years that this would happen. We were branded as paranoid idiots while the real idiots kept on thinking that every technological advance would only make life peaches and cream and would never be abused.
I'm tired of telling the intentionally stupid to beware. I am ready to let them be eaten. These are the same people who see no harm in an arms registry or OnStar or Cardcheck. They can't be saved. I quit. Let them be eaten. It will only save us ammunition when the inevitable occurs
Just a reminder - those 8 million GPS co-ordinate 'requests' are just those from Sprint. I wouldn't doubt that Verizon could account for the same or more. The remainder of the carriers could probably tally up another 8 million.
The greatest security risk in this whole story is probably to all the ex-girlfriends and their current boyfriends who are being checked up on by spurned cops, bureaubots, and politicians.
By the way - a year and a half ago David did a post on MAINCORE.
A couple other pieces for those who might have an interest:
I wonder how many people who object to RFID chips pack a cell phone with a GPS that is far superior for tracking their movements?
It is another example of incrementalism at work, my several year old phone has three settings for the GPS locator: off, on and on only when calling 911. The newer model is always on.
From the linked article - Sprint/Nextel provides a web interface (for LEOs) for these requests. No mention is made of what criteria is required to access this information, but the Manager of Electronic Surveillance for Sprint states that "the tool has just really caught on fire with law enforcement."
ReplyDeleteAlso related - this story:
Yahoo, Verizon: Our Spy Capabilities Would 'Shock', 'Confuse' Consumers
The linked article details FOI requests for the price lists that these companies have been using to charge government agencies for otherwise private and personal customer information.
I may just be extra curmudgeonly today, but so fucking what? I and others have been saying for years that this would happen. We were branded as paranoid idiots while the real idiots kept on thinking that every technological advance would only make life peaches and cream and would never be abused.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of telling the intentionally stupid to beware. I am ready to let them be eaten. These are the same people who see no harm in an arms registry or OnStar or Cardcheck. They can't be saved. I quit. Let them be eaten. It will only save us ammunition when the inevitable occurs
I invite WoG readers to get familiar with MAINCORE, as we are most definitely among the 8 million (coincidence?) Americans being tracked by it.
ReplyDeleteMaincore = 8 miilion people?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that approximately equal three out of every one hundred, or 3%?
Gee, where have I seen that number before?
Just a reminder - those 8 million GPS co-ordinate 'requests' are just those from Sprint. I wouldn't doubt that Verizon could account for the same or more. The remainder of the carriers could probably tally up another 8 million.
ReplyDeleteThe greatest security risk in this whole story is probably to all the ex-girlfriends and their current boyfriends who are being checked up on by spurned cops, bureaubots, and politicians.
By the way - a year and a half ago David did a post on MAINCORE.
A couple other pieces for those who might have an interest:
Synthetic Environments for Analysis and Simulation
and
Evolutionary Cognitive Neuroscience: Dual Use Discipline for Understanding & Managing Complexity and Altering Warfare
WV= visabile
I wonder how many people who object to RFID chips pack a cell phone with a GPS that is far superior for tracking their movements?
ReplyDeleteIt is another example of incrementalism at work, my several year old phone has three settings for the GPS locator: off, on and on only when calling 911. The newer model is always on.