Law Enforcement Requests for Net Data Multiply 135
Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "It's not just phone companies grappling with reported potentially privacy-intruding requests from the NSA and other branches of government: Banks, Internet-service providers and other companies that possess large amounts of data on their customers say that police and intelligence agencies have been increasingly coming to them looking for tidbits of information that could help them stop everything from money launderers to pedophiles and terrorists, the Wall Street Journal reports. From the article: 'According to AOL executives, the most common requests in criminal cases relate to crimes against children, including abuse, abductions, and child pornography. Close behind are cases dealing with identity theft and other computer crimes. Sometimes the police requests are highly targeted and scrupulously legalistic, while other times they were seen by the company as little more than sloppy fishing expeditions. AOL says that most requests get turned down.'"
Not all got turned down? (Score:1, Informative)
I understand if there is an official investigation and the much needed paperwork that is required by law. However never-ever should they hand over any information voluntaily.
I have worked at a Internet Provider in Belgium and either the police came with the paperwork, or they got noting. Once they came into the office, because one person thought they were for him prsonaly and they were escorted out again and had gotten no information wahtsoever.
An other time they tried social engineering their way through the helpdesk. Bzzzt. No go. I need a piece of paper or you get nothing.
However I am not sure how often they succeeded. Now you try to do the same. Social engineer infornation and then claiming later that you just asked and it was the problem of that individual that he gave up information.
These case should be looked at as hacking attacks and attempts to steal idetities. Unfortunatly all our nase already belongs to them.