Facebook must hand over New York users' info to prosecutors, court rules

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc cannot challenge search warrants New York prosecutors used to get information from its site on hundreds of users suspected of Social Security fraud, a state appeals court said on Tuesday, in a decision likely making it harder for New Yorkers to keep their digital lives private.

The warrants, which applied to 381 users' photos, private messages and other account information, could only be challenged by individual defendants after prosecutors gathered evidence, the Manhattan-based court unanimously ruled.

Facebook was backed in the case by a group of large Internet companies including Google Inc and Microsoft Corp, which argued the case could set a troubling precedent giving prosecutors access to all kinds of digital information.

Internet companies are pushing back broadly against U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies' demands for customer data, in the wake of revelations by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden of wide-ranging online surveillance.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-must-hand-over-york-users-prosecutors-court-194418240--finance.html

[blackspade]

1. Shit like this will start a contraction away from social media

Which is probably a good thing.

[jberryhill]

2. For free?

That's like asking GM to give away cars!

[thesquanderer]

3. Facebook is an interesting case if the issue at hand is identity theft

because it is one of the few places online that makes an actual effort at making sure people are representing themselves with their real names. So I could see it being of particular interest for investigating things like SS fraud.

[geek tragedy]

4. If cops can search your underwear drawer with a warrant, why not your Facebook account?

This is information being sought where a court has signed off on the information gathering after reviewing it for constitutionality.

I don't see the scandal here.

[Ed Suspicious]

8. Is the information I post to Facebook my data or Facebook's?

I could see them compelling me to turn it over, but how can they compel Facebook?

[geek tragedy]

9. It's located on their servers.

Bank records get subpoenaed regularly.

[Ed Suspicious]

11. Oh, good point.

[hollowdweller]

5. I used to see my claimants all over town.

When I worked for Social Security. I saw people who said they never went outside due to panic attacks and agoraphobia outside. People who said they didn't talk to anyone out hanging out. I also saw people who were even worse than the info in their claim suggested.

However it always blew me away that since people knew that what they said to Social Security and what they told their doctor esp if it was a psychiatrist was the main thing and we didn't really check up on people they felt free just to lie. Mainly mental claims of course where there is a degree of subjectivity.

[closeupready]

6. Facebook, Apple, Google, Microsoft ... They were ALL

cooperating with domestic intelligence gathering, full stop, including the NSA - with or without warrants - backdoor access, outright data handovers, etc. LOL Big money at stake. Isn't it true that their hands were tipped by Snowden's revelations?

But more specifically with regard to this story, as geek tragedy is asking above, what is the scandal here? Authorities went through the appropriate channels, and got the paperwork they needed. Isn't that what people here have been complaining about for the last 10 years?

Facebook wouldn't publicly challenge such a search warrant, which challenge had ZERO chance of passing muster, unless there was a secondary, hidden agenda. Which is to help rehabilitate its 'cool'-ness. That is, "we in the tech industry were all shaped in the same mold as the young Steve Jobs!!!!"

Kabuki theater.

[elias49]

7. Yep. The law enforcement agencies have an ever-growing list of things legal to do -

which is whatever they want. And they'll find a way to make it 'right'.
Scandal indeed.

[Historic NY]

10. People put so much stuff out there on FB of course its open for harvesting...

its done on a regular basis. Who here hasn't seen major criminal cases spread FB stuff that the media grabs and spreads all over. LE seems to always look at the FB spew, like the recent shooter's in Tn. & S.C. Why people think this is sacred is beyond me. Many workers compensation frauds, etc. have been upheld with what the alleged victims had posted. What would make you think the internet and social media aren't fair game.

[seveneyes]

12. Fraudulent use of public funds is a serious crime