FBI Pursuing Real-Time Gmail Spying Powers as ?Top Priority? for 2013

[Heath]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_te...ing_power.html

Despite the pervasiveness of law enforcement surveillance of digital communication, the FBI still has a difficult time monitoring Gmail, Google Voice, and Dropbox in real time. But that may change soon, because the bureau says it has made gaining more powers to wiretap all forms of Internet conversation and cloud storage a ?top priority? this year.

Last week, during a talk for the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C., FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann discussed some of the pressing surveillance and national security issues facing the bureau. He gave a few updates on the FBI?s efforts to address what it calls the ?going dark? problem?how the rise in popularity of email and social networks has stifled its ability to monitor communications as they are being transmitted. It?s no secret that under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the feds can easily obtain archive copies of emails. When it comes to spying on emails or Gchat in real time, however, it?s a different story.

That?s because a 1994 surveillance law called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act only allows the government to force Internet providers and phone companies to install surveillance equipment within their networks. But it doesn?t cover email, cloud services, or online chat providers like Skype. Weissmann said that the FBI wants the power to mandate real-time surveillance of everything from Dropbox and online games (?the chat feature in Scrabble?) to Gmail and Google Voice. ?Those communications are being used for criminal conversations,? he said.

While it is true that CALEA can only be used to compel Internet and phone providers to build in surveillance capabilities into their networks, the feds do have some existing powers to request surveillance of other services. Authorities can use a ?Title III? order under the ?Wiretap Act? to ask email and online chat providers furnish the government with ?technical assistance necessary to accomplish the interception.? However, the FBI claims this is not sufficient because mandating that providers help with ?technical assistance? is not the same thing as forcing them to ?effectuate? a wiretap. In 2011, then-FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni?Weissmann?s predecessor?stated that Title III orders did not provide the bureau with an "effective lever" to "encourage providers" to set up live surveillance quickly and efficiently. In other words, the FBI believes it doesn?t have enough power under current legislation to strong-arm companies into providing real-time wiretaps of communications.

[xNetworx]

[sandman!]

not really surprised

[Vapid - BANNED FOR LIFE]

[MainstreamGuy]

Yep, that's right, Sire.

That's why Google, MSN and Yahoo, have united all their services.

The main reason of linking all accounts and services together is to facilitate Spy Agencies to control and watch everything easier.

[d-null]

I saw a story in Canada where the police wanted to more easily get into your text messages, but the cellphone company fought in court for the rights of their customers and made it harder

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/st...-decision.html

[BlackCrayon]

Originally Posted by d-null

I saw a story in Canada where the police wanted to more easily get into your text messages, but the cellphone company fought in court for the rights of their customers and made it harder

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/st...-decision.html

so does that make this ruling no longer valid?

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/don-t-w...says-1.1165483

[_Richard_]

they want it?

or they want the legal right to do so?

something tells me it's the latter, and they're already doing it

[skrog]

I wonder if privacy will exist in the coming years.

[d-null]

Originally Posted by skrog

I wonder if privacy will exist in the coming years.

and sadly, those wanting to be private will be looked at with suspicion

[BlackCrayon]

Originally Posted by skrog

I wonder if privacy will exist in the coming years.

when did it ever exist? the government has been watching phone calls, text messages, emails for decades. just not in real time perhaps.

[skrog]

Originally Posted by BlackCrayon

when did it ever exist? the government has been watching phone calls, text messages, emails for decades. just not in real time perhaps.

True. But its about get a bit more crazy in the coming years. I am pretty sure the new alarm systems they install in houses have mics.

[_Richard_]

Originally Posted by skrog

I wonder if privacy will exist in the coming years.

privacy < thinking of the children

[BlackCrayon]

Originally Posted by skrog

True. But its about get a bit more crazy in the coming years. I am pretty sure the new alarm systems they install in houses have mics.

I'm sure it will. I don't know about the mics thing but I have heard dentists are putting listening devices in fillings though.

[Mr Pheer]

I'm very suspicious of the way my xbox kinnect watches everything I do.

[Captain Kawaii]

Originally Posted by _Richard_

they want it?

or they want the legal right to do so?

something tells me it's the latter, and they're already doing it

True. They learned their lesson from the Kim Mega debacle.

[Captain Kawaii]

Originally Posted by skrog

I wonder if privacy will exist in the coming years.

It does not exist now. An All Things Considered report awhile back asked a gov official about privacy. He said the current view is what you do within your own four walls is up to you. But the minute you walk outside or communicate with outside world in any way, shape or form.You are open target.