On the Government Abuse of Cell Phone Monitoring #Technology #Politics

Stock photo, not credited


NEW YORK, NY -- US authorities intercepted and recorded millions of phone calls last year under a single wiretap order, authorized as part of a narcotics investigation.

The wiretap order authorized an unknown government agency to carry out real-time intercepts of 3.29 million cell phone conversations over a two-month period at some point during 2016, after the order was applied for in late 2015.

The order was signed to help authorities track 26 individuals suspected of involvement with illegal drug and narcotic-related activities in Pennsylvania.

The wiretap cost the authorities $335,000 to conduct and led to a dozen arrests.

But the authorities noted that the surveillance effort led to no incriminating intercepts, and none of the handful of those arrested have been brought to trial or convicted.

ZDNET:  With a single wiretap order, US authorities listened in on 3.3 million phone calls

We're guessing you don't need the technical definition of a fishing trip.


You also don't need the editorial on the abuses since Edward Snowden has been heralding that for years but, as you can see above, the state didn't listen.


Of note is the exceptionally unproductive result of all those invasions of privacy:  nothing.  That was one example and who knows how often this happens.  Apparently the information can be found but you better bring your caving tools to find it.

The revelation was buried in the US Courts' annual wiretap report, published earlier this week but largely overlooked.

- ZDNET


It's also not clear who did it.  Was the service provided by the NSA and then the results turned over to these New York cops or did they run yet another surveillance of the same people the NSA is surveilling.  Eventually it gets to the point at which people get fed-up and say, "This is bloody ludicrous."

It hasn't happened yet, tho.


The Regulars know I can write an editorial long enough to choke a whale on the topic but I don't want to insult you with it when I know you're well aware of the situation.  I don't well understand why it continues since all of us see the problem but it doesn't stop.  It goes into an editorial to suggest possibilities so we will leave that alone.

Perhaps for a bit of irony is the first call which came through on an iPhone after I have not carried one for years ... was from cops asking for money for some damn thing.  I swear ... but then I think a moment and question what difference is swearing supposed to make.

Ed:  whales are filter feeders!

Sperm whales aren't.  Yo, Moby Dick.


It seems I'm a cellphone newbie again after all these years rejecting them and I signed it up with Do Not Call but I don't have confidence that will change much the fact of multiple calls originating in various Texas area codes and none of which I know.  I don't answer them since I'm quite sure I don't need to know them but it would be better to quash them.  If anyone has a millennial tip on how to do that which doesn't cost anything, please do advise.