Errosion Of Accord
3rd December 2010, 07:32 AM
I've posted on this subject several times, and it seems to me my warnings go unheeded. Never fill out a warranty card or use anything that can be digitally mined for your information. This article proves my point. Do I use a card? Yes I do but I am quite wary about the purchases I make with it too. The big retailers all sell the information they glean with your discount cards, I don't use any of them that have my real info. Credit card companies sell every purchase you make to Lexis Nexis who will mine your data for anyone who will pay. The Feds are not supposed to keep data on citizens but the law does not say they can not use a private contractor.
Threat Level Privacy, Crime and Security Online
Previous post
Next post
Feds Warrantlessly Tracking Americans’ Credit Cards in Real Time
* By Ryan Singel Email Author
* December 2, 2010 |
* 5:06 pm |
* Categories: Surveillance
*
Federal law enforcement agencies have been tracking Americans in real-time using credit cards, loyalty cards and travel reservations without getting a court order, a new document released under a government sunshine request shows.
The document, obtained by security researcher Christopher Soghoian, explains how so-called “Hotwatch” orders allow for real-time tracking of individuals in a criminal investigation via credit card companies, rental car agencies, calling cards, and even grocery store loyalty programs. The revelation sheds a little more light on the Justice Department’s increasing power and willingness to surveil Americans with little to no judicial or Congressional oversight.
For credit cards, agents can get real-time information on a person’s purchases by writing their own subpoena, followed up by a order from a judge that the surveillance not be disclosed. Agents can also go the traditional route — going to a judge, proving probable cause and getting a search warrant — which means the target will eventually be notified they were spied on.
The document suggests that the normal practice is to ask for all historical records on an account or individual from a credit card company, since getting stored records is generally legally easy. Then the agent sends a request for “Any and all records and information relating directly or indirectly to any and all ongoing and future transactions or events relating to any and all of the following person(s), entitities, account numbers, addresses and other matters…” That gets them a live feed of transaction data.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/realtime/
Suggested reading
http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Hide-Emerging-Surveillance/dp/0743254805
Threat Level Privacy, Crime and Security Online
Previous post
Next post
Feds Warrantlessly Tracking Americans’ Credit Cards in Real Time
* By Ryan Singel Email Author
* December 2, 2010 |
* 5:06 pm |
* Categories: Surveillance
*
Federal law enforcement agencies have been tracking Americans in real-time using credit cards, loyalty cards and travel reservations without getting a court order, a new document released under a government sunshine request shows.
The document, obtained by security researcher Christopher Soghoian, explains how so-called “Hotwatch” orders allow for real-time tracking of individuals in a criminal investigation via credit card companies, rental car agencies, calling cards, and even grocery store loyalty programs. The revelation sheds a little more light on the Justice Department’s increasing power and willingness to surveil Americans with little to no judicial or Congressional oversight.
For credit cards, agents can get real-time information on a person’s purchases by writing their own subpoena, followed up by a order from a judge that the surveillance not be disclosed. Agents can also go the traditional route — going to a judge, proving probable cause and getting a search warrant — which means the target will eventually be notified they were spied on.
The document suggests that the normal practice is to ask for all historical records on an account or individual from a credit card company, since getting stored records is generally legally easy. Then the agent sends a request for “Any and all records and information relating directly or indirectly to any and all ongoing and future transactions or events relating to any and all of the following person(s), entitities, account numbers, addresses and other matters…” That gets them a live feed of transaction data.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/realtime/
Suggested reading
http://www.amazon.com/No-Place-Hide-Emerging-Surveillance/dp/0743254805