ATT Net, Verizon & MCI: The FBI & The Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009
by Edward Rhymes
Two years ago, certain FBI personnel used misleading emergency letters to acquire thousands of Americans' phone records. At the time this led to an unprecedented criminal probe, revealed at an outreach meeting led by FBI director Robert Mueller and general counsel Valerie Caproni at FBI headquarters, were looking at the actions of an antiterrorism team known as the Communications Analysis Unit. The privately disclosed investigation marked the first time government officials have faced possible prosecution for misuse of Patriot Act investigative tools, and highlighted the seriousness of reports about the FBI's misuse of a powerful self-issued subpoena known as a National Security Letter.
Unit employees, who were not authorized to request records in investigations, sent form letters to telephone companies to acquire detailed billing information on specific phone numbers by falsely promising that subpoenas were already in the works.
National Security Letters are self-issued subpoenas that allow investigators in terrorism and espionage cases to require phone companies, banks, credit reporting agencies and internet service providers to turn over records on Americans considered "relevant" to an investigation. Those records are then fed into three computer systems, including a shared data-mining tool known as the Investigative Data Warehouse.
Though warned in 2001 to use this power sparingly, FBI agents issued more than 47,000 National Security Letters in 2005, more than half of which targeted Americans.
It is now two years later and I haven't even heard a whisper about this very important civil liberties criminal case. What do you know about it?
Here is a YouTube video from an ABC News report from two years ago that addresses these abuses:
National Security Letters are self-issued subpoenas that allow investigators in terrorism and espionage cases to require phone companies, banks, credit reporting agencies and internet service providers to turn over records on Americans considered "relevant" to an investigation. Those records are then fed into three computer systems, including a shared data-mining tool known as the Investigative Data Warehouse.
Though warned in 2001 to use this power sparingly, FBI agents issued more than 47,000 National Security Letters in 2005, more than half of which targeted Americans.
It is now two years later and I haven't even heard a whisper about this very important civil liberties criminal case. What do you know about it?
Here is a YouTube video from an ABC News report from two years ago that addresses these abuses:
This Article has been viewed 1,283 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)very interesting and eye opening article.Thanks for sharingThanks for reading & commenting Matt. Welcome to SearchWarp!
I had never heard of this event, bro. When I do hear of such injustices it makes me wonder how many more are happening right now.Strong stuff here, Edward. Fascinating and relevant- as always!Thanks Ken. Yeah, I think that this is worth a: "whatever happened with..." --- at least.Thanks for commenting and reading bro!
*** Good afternoon Edward!"Though warned in 2001 to use this power sparingly, FBI agents issued more than 47,000 National Security Letters in 2005, more than half of which targeted Americans."*** Considering the power of the Federal Reserve and the corrupt politicians that are put in office by them, is it a shock anymore when we see and hear these things? It's not until people realize that a monetary system has to be run corruptly and by force in order to run effectively for the few (Power Elite), will we see it for what it really is - SLAVE LABOR!*** The Federal Reserve owns us! We were born into their system and they control us, the media, and the government, so I ask why is anyone shocked anymore when we view these types of unlawful actions by those who the public thinks they voted in, when in reality they are thugs who's job it is to protect the corrupt system? It's like expecting the Mafia to change it's behavior and be much nicer because IT elected a new Godfather.*** It doesn't matter if it's Bush, McCain, O'Bama, Clinton, L.B.J. or whomever The Federal Reserve puts in office. What matters to them are their agendas which profit from the wars, interest rates and bank collapses THEY CREATE. They will make the rules and break them at will, and when we challenge them they will run and disappear until it gets quiet again, just as rats do when a light is flicked on in the dark of night, AND/OR they will SILENCE us through intimidation, which is the real reason for the Patriot Act."What do you know about it?"***Less than you! And if any of us did know more and brought it to the public's attention, we could suffer the same fate as those who also speak out, and not one of us can do a thing about it. The people in this country REALLY need to wake up. As long as we continue to borrowed money at interest, in conjunction with the "illegal" Federal Income Tax that goes into the pockets of the bankers, will we be forever bound. The controlling mechanisms of the monetary system without any alternative system, will continue to keep us tied to IT and the corruption of those who keep printing the money for IT."Here is a YouTube video from an ABC News report from two years ago that addresses these abuses:"*** I will watch it Edward, but keep in mind all we are doing is gaining knowledge of these injustices, whereas the government carries the weapons that can silence that knowledge when we attempt to make it public. In fact you, I, and anyone reading your article right now may soon be the victims of such abuse and tactics just because we are now again informed or at least more aware of this issue.*** There is NO QUESTION in my mind that SearchWarp and other writer's sites are watched by the Feds to see who's getting too smart, who knows too much, and who's going to attempt to do something about it, just as they listen in on thousands of innocent American's phone conversations. I also believe the Feds also keep a close watch to the internet and sites like YouTube, not for their better understanding of issues, but to see who is posting videos that question their practices. This is how they create their excuses to issue warrants. Soon you may see sites like YouTube disappear completely. Their excuse will be that "terrorist" and "anti-Americans" are trying to undermine the government through public visual persuasion, which is the exact tactics they use to undermine us.*** I know a man who was approached at his home one night by the Secret Service while he was just baby-sitting his son. The reason: He had a bumper sticker which read "Save our troops - kill Bush!" They interrogated him for 45 minutes.***It makes me wonder how many Americans may already be in detention centers without representation, with no word on when they can expect to be let go, or why they are even there.*** I know I've made this point before, but John Lennon wrote in Strawberry Fields, "Living is easy with eyes closed. Misunderstanding all you see."*** It seems far too many people are living with their "eyes closed" these days. How many more times is the public going to fall for lies like the Gulf of Tonkin, the intentional sinking of the Luzitania, the Tuskegee Experiment, anti-virus medications, Pearl Harbor, stock market crashes, 9/11, Iraq, Afganistan, WWI, WWII, and Vietnam? Does the public still believe we fight for Democracy and that new officials make a difference, when time and again the evidence shows the power elite are behind these intentional and sick events for PROFIT and POWER?*** Like you and some others on here Ed, I'd much rather be an unhappy wise man than a gleeful moron! Thanks for the head's up on the video!KennyThanks Kenny. I will not attempt to add to your wonderful manifesto, but I will thank you for your always piercing insights.Take care Kenny.You bet Ed, and thank you!!
Thanks again for another eye opening piece. Scary to say the least...MarijoAgreed Marijo... scary. Thanks for commenting and reading.
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