Massive expansion of domestic spying under Obama

11 07 2012

From WSWS –

By Niall Green

Cell phone companies reported that US government bodies, including federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and courts, made at least 1.3 million demands for subscriber information in 2011.

According to a report in the New York Times, telecommunications companies routinely hand over thousands of pieces of information every day about their customers, including the contents of text messages and caller locations. One of the largest carriers, AT&T, responds to more than 700 government requests for information each day, while another major cell phone company, Sprint, reported that it had received an average of 1,500 government requests each day last year.

Nine telecom companies reported evidence of this pervasive state surveillance of their customers in response to an inquiry from a congressional committee investigating the increased use of phone tapping and other forms of data mining. The Times reports that because of incomplete record-keeping, the actual number of government demands for cell phone users’ private information was almost certainly far higher than the 1.3 million figure reported to Congress. . . (more)

http://wsws.org/articles/2012/jul2012/tapp-j10.shtml

ALSO –

An inquiry by Congressional Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass) has revealed that the number of requests wireless carriers receive from US law enforcement for information about their customers has increased steadily, but just how often the police use mobile phones to track individuals’ whereabouts remains unclear. . . .


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US space-based spy system in use

15 03 2010

Jamacia Observer – 

Tivoli under satellite surveillance

Americans said to have audio, video recordings of Gov’t officials in community

[Jamacia]  TIVOLI Gardens, the tough West Kingston base of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, is under satellite surveillance by United States authorities who are determined to have Coke extradited to answer drug- and gun-running charges in New York, the Sunday Observer has learnt.

According to a security expert with knowledge of the operation, the US has powerful audio and video evidence of activities involving Coke, as well as several Government officials, including members of the legislature, inside the Tivoli Gardens community centre.

With the use of Satellite Internet Telemetry System (SIMS) similar to that used to record wildlife activities, the US has captured the make, colour and licence plates of vehicles entering and exiting Tivoli Gardens at specific periods, as well as conversations, the expert said.

The SIMS, the expert said, is very simple to operate.

“Satellite service is available anywhere in the world for the system to operate. The data is transmitted from the Satellite Telemetry System based on programmed time intervals and/or alarms. It is transferred through satellite and Internet to a dedicated web page, and you can monitor and collect that data as long as you have web access,” the expert said.

“It is very simple. Set your co-ordinates, hook up your sensors, point the antenna to the sky, and turn on your equipment,” added the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Wire-tapping communication is an insignificant part of the evidence against Coke,” said the expert in reference to Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s claim that the evidence supporting the extradition request violated the Interception of Communications Act which makes strict provisions for the manner in which intercepted communications may be obtained and disclosed.

Also captured, the expert said, was a gathering of some Government officials, along with individuals from the Tivoli Gardens community making and smoking what appeared to be marijuana spliffs at the centre, on different occasions…(more)

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/US-has-Dudus-surveillance_7485113

Photography close enough to record car plates and warrantless wiretaps that can be initiated worldwide by the US ought to scare everybody.  – F.C.

 


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