FBI Admits That It Uses Carrier IQ For Law Enforcement Purposes; Won't Say How
from the and-then-there's-that... dept
So remember Carrier IQ? That would be the company that is providing what's been deemed a root kit on a ton of mobile phones. While the company has sought to downplay the security and privacy risks of its software (to the point of threatening the main researcher behind the revelation), further research suggested that the software likely tracked actions down to the keystroke. Again, Carrier IQ has insisted that its only purpose was to help mobile operators get data and information to help out when users are having problems. For example, it notes the ability to highlight when and how users have dropped calls. And if this was all it really does, then the software might be slightly reasonable (though, the fact that it's hidden and almost impossible to remove represents a significant problem no matter how benign the software might be).However, Michael Morisy over at the site Muckrock, decided he might try a different angle to learn about Carrier IQ and whether it was used for surveillance: he filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the FBI to find out if and how it uses Carrier IQ data. Not too surprisingly, the FBI won't provide him any details, but the way in which it turned him down was actually quite telling. Rather than just saying there were "no responsive documents," it instead said that it did have responsive documents "but they were exempt under a provision that covers materials that, if disclosed, might reasonably interfere with an ongoing investigation." That may imply, contrary to Carrier IQ's suggestions, that its software isn't for monitoring and spying, that the FBI views it quite differently, and already makes use of some Carrier IQ data. Of course, Morisy notes that there is another possible explanation: the FBI could be investigating Carrier IQ itself following these allegations, and it won't reveal the data for fear of compromising that investigation. Either way, it at least raises some significant new questions concerning Carrier IQ and how its data is being used.
Update: Carrier IQ has come out with a response insisting that it has never given out info to the FBI. I would imagine that's true, but it's besides the point. The issue is whether or not the FBI uses Carrier IQ data that it receives via the mobile operators.
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Filed Under: fbi, privacy, spying
Companies: carrieriq, sprint, verizon wireless
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Foreseeable Future
Bureaucratic corruption at its finest!
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Due Process
Why do I have the feeling that is not how the FBI uses this technology and it is more akin to eBay shopping?
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http://gizmodo.com/5867693/carrier-iq-were-not-working-with-the-fbi
So maybe it's the second option, that the FBI is already looking into them.
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So the FBI is collecting the Carrier IQ data from the network operators instead of directly from Carrier IQ.
They don't (and can't) say the FBI isn't getting it, just that Carrier IQ isn't giving it to them...
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What about
Furthermore, all they claim is that they haven't provided data to the FBI and not that they haven't provided the FBI with the means to independently use the carrier iq software to gather their own data.
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Then, I want to know if said agencies have actually been using it for a legitimate investigation of to go fishing.
The FBI loves to fish. So, in fairness, does the RCMP.
Sigh.
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Every Cell Phone Is Tracked
After realizing the extent of the problem we set out to create a device which would allow the owners of these devices to control when, where and by whom the device is accessed as of this month we are making this device available to you, me and everyone else concerned about their privacy. See us at www.thecaseforprivacy.com for more information.
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Re: Every Cell Phone Is Tracked
If so - that would be awesome.
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(Saying Chinese government might seem a stretch but if someone is working in the tech industry, wouldn't YOU want to know if they were unhappy at work and would be ripe for headhunting?)
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(Saying Chinese government might seem a stretch but if someone is working in the tech industry, wouldn't YOU want to know if they were unhappy at work and would be ripe for headhunting?)
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well
(Saying Chinese government might seem a stretch but if someone is working in the tech industry, wouldn't YOU want to know if they were unhappy at work and would be ripe for headhunting?)
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well
(Saying Chinese government might seem a stretch but if someone is working in the tech industry, wouldn't YOU want to know if they were unhappy at work and would be ripe for headhunting?)
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bugged post
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more information
It is an in depth look at what it does and does not do.
I don't think the FBI uses the metrics data because there is nothing there to begin with. To top that off it isn't Carrier IQ's data it is the carriers.
Any request for anything is given to the carriers, from law enforcement following a warrant for information.
How and what information is given from the carrier to law enforcement, Carrier IQ has nothing to do with it whats so ever.
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Every phone is tracked and all can be comprimised with a laptop and an antenna.
After realizing the extent of the problem we set out to create a device which would allow the owners of these devices to control when, where and by whom the device is accessed as of this month we are making this device available to you, me and everyone else concerned about their privacy. See us at www.thecaseforprivacy.com/blogs/news for more information.
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You can do better, Mike
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Removals to Spain
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