In 2011, government agencies asked Internet providers and cell phone companies for private subscriber data 1.2 million times. In the vast majority of cases, warrants were not provided and the telecom companies had the right to refuse. They handed over your information anyway, and charged for it.
Guest:
Christopher Parsons (link)
Links:
Toronto Star: Government agencies seek telecom user data at “jaw-dropping” rates (link).
Bell and Telus deny any role in voluntary, warrantless bulk surveillance (link).
Form letter from the Citizen Lab: use it to find out if you’ve been snitched on (link).
Topics discussed:
How much user data have telecom companies been handing over to government agencies? Which companies? How do they even handle the demand? Do they have to cough it up? Which government agencies? Can a person find out if they’ve been spied on? Can we sue? What if we demanded that they stop?
