FBI using Carrier IQ info for "law enforcement purposes," refuses to release records

[jayfish]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/12/fbi-using-carrier-iq-info-for-law-enforcement-purposes-refuses-to-release-records.ars

An enterprising advocate for openness in government has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the FBI for all information the agency uses related to Carrier IQ, the company under fire for monitoring user activity on smartphones—and his request was flatly denied. The FBI claims data gathered by Carrier IQ software is exempt from disclosure laws because it is located in an investigative file that was "compiled for law enforcement purposes" and "could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings."

Michael Morisy, a journalist who founded an organization called MuckRock to ease the process of filing FOIA requests, wrote the FBI on Dec. 1 asking for "any manuals, documents or other written guidance used to access or analyze data gathered by programs developed or deployed by Carrier IQ.... In addition, I ask for expedited processing as this is a matter of immediate news interest: The existence of Carrier IQ's software was recently disclosed and has immediate ramifications on constitutionally protected privacy rights."

I loved all the tech "journalists" who called this innocuous and made excuses for the carriers and Carrier IQ last week. I can't wait to hear the excuses now.

[pmorlan1]

1. Very interesting

Thanks for posting this link.

[pmorlan1]

2. Like on Facebook

I tried to click on the Facebook like button but it won't let me?

[Warren Stupidity]

3. I remember when we used to have rights.

But I am an old fart. That was a long time ago.

[BenYehuda]

4. The future of freedom from this corporate facist empire...is encryption....

....Wikileaks, this man's FOI quest, the ATT eaves drops...they are all leading to one thing.....we need ubiquitous encryption on the internet......it's coming....the cyberpunks are surely many steps ahead......Bitcoin etc....

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, jayfish.

[CreekDog]

6. if FBI is using these, doesn't it mean that the vendor was logging them?

[jayfish]

11. Carrier IQ is saying that they do not store the data but the carrier might.

As murky as this whole saga has been I don't buy any of it. It also doesn't excuse a blanket denial by the FBI of a FOIA request. I'd like a competent, independent third-party to look into this.


ON EDIT: http://venturebeat.com/2011/12/13/carrier-iq-fbi-rebuttal/

[rethymnon]

7. Not so fast

This article points out that the FBI's response could also mean that the FBI is investigating Carrier IQ.

http://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2011/dec/12/fbi-carrier-iq-files-used-law-enforcement-purposes/

[meow2u3]

8. Secrecy is required for ongoing criminal investigations

That's law enforcement's standard operating procedure. Besides, would you want to let criminals who like to spy on unsuspecting civilians get off scot-free and give them a license to track your every move with impunity?

[msongs]

9. the FBI are criminals who want to track your every move with impunity? sounds about right in

this case

[saras]

10. They can and do and the law can do nothing. What does that have to do with tihs?

[meow2u3]

13. I'm pointing out the ambiguity in the FBI's statement

Let me clear up my post.

On the one hand, government officials and law enforcement are not allowed to comment on ongoing criminal investigation, especially if a judge issues a gag order; on the other hand, law enforcement, government, and businesses can be colluding in a massive corruption racket and use the pretext of an ongoing investigation to cover up such shady, if not outright illegal, behavior.

It's hard to tell whether the Feds are investigating or committing unlawful espionage.

[Zhade]

12. Our government does that every day.

Tell me, did the crminals in the bush administration go to jail?

[24601]

15. No, his sentence was commuted

[leftyohiolib]

14. dump the cell phone over it.

companies lose enough business they'll take it out

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. Goodbye 4th Amendment! We hardly knew ye!