Two weeks ago, the Guardian published two new Snowden documents. These outline how the NSA's data-collection procedures allow it to collect lots of data on Americans, and how the FISA court fails to provide oversight over these procedures.. The documents are complicated, but I strongly recommend that people read both the Guardian analysis and the EFF analysis -- and possibly the USA Today story. The link for this article located at Schneier on Security is no longer available. . Newly surfaced files illustrate the methods employed by the NSA to gather information on U.S. citizens, often with minimal regulation from FISA judiciary.. NSA Surveillance, Data Privacy, FISA Regulations. . Anthony Pell
Police and government officals in the U.S. have been bypassing the need for subpoenas and warrants by gathering personal information made available through private data brokers. The data brokers, which advertise heavily on the Internet, have at times admitted to using deception and illegal practices themselves, according to a new report by the Associated Press. Law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. Marshal's Service, and local police in various states have been using data brokers to obtain detailed personal phone records, credit histories, and other information on their suspects. The records are often obtained much faster and more easily than using the standard subpoena and warrant process - often taking hours rather than days or weeks. While the data brokers normally charge customers for the information, it is believe that law enforcement agencies are rarely charged for this service. . It is being reported that some of the information sold by brokers was obtained illegally, but this fact is not likely being conveyed to law enforcement using the information, and officials appear to be undeterred. U.S. Republican Ed Whitfield, head of the House Energy and Commerce investigation subcommittee, was quoted by the AP as saying, "...[the data brokers] will impersonate and use everything available that they have to convince the person who has the information to share it with them, and it's shocking how successful they are." The link for this article located at is no longer available. . Law enforcement circumvents legal demands by acquiring private data from third-party sellers, with some information sourced unlawfully, sparking worries over civil liberties.. Data Brokers, Law Enforcement Practices, Personal Information, Privacy Risks, Surveillance. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
In the name of convenience and safety, big business and big government keep pushing the boundaries of privacy and surveillance. Consider the latest from online retailer Amazon.com Inc. and the Super Bowl. Trusting businesses to protect privacy is always a risk, . . . . In the name of convenience and safety, big business and big government keep pushing the boundaries of privacy and surveillance. Consider the latest from online retailer Amazon.com Inc. and the Super Bowl. Trusting businesses to protect privacy is always a risk, because personal data is a valuable commodity. That's why I'm hesitant to take at face value a new Amazon service that looks quite useful -- and which, at least for now, is sensitive to privacy concerns, more so than many other e-commerce sites I can name. On Tuesday, the company announced the ``Honor System' -- a method for making payments to Web sites, either as voluntary contributions or payments for services or information. The Amazon service is similar in some respects to services such as PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/us/home), providing a way to make small payments conveniently. The link for this article located at MercuryCenter is no longer available. . In the name of convenience and safety, big business and big government keep pushing the boundaries o. convenience, safety, business, government, pushing, boundaries. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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