Posted on 04/04/2017 6:47:29 PM PDT by Repeal 16-17
New York state’s highest court has handed law enforcement a victory — ruling that the courts have no authority to decide the constitutionality of bulk seizures of Facebook users’ private accounts for criminal probes.
In 2014, Facebook challenged Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus’ Vance’s bulk-search warrant demanding information on 381 of its users who were suspects in a major investigation into NYPD and FDNY Social Security scammers.
More than 100 people have been convicted in the scam. They claimed they were too sick to work in order to get the benefits – then posted photos of themselves on social media platforms like Facebook jet-skiing and sport-fishing.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Totally agree. Should go to SCOTUS.
Federal courts
Sounds like the judge I looking for a SC appointment the next Dem Presidency. May have to wait an awful long time though.
The Fourth Amendment is effectively no longer effective.
If you have any political opinions at all that diverge from Mark Zuckerberg’s, it’s beyond stupid to use Facebook.
Sounds like justice, scammers!
The internet is a public owned resource built and maintained using imminent domain. Like the public road system.
You want privacy?
Run your own lines direct to whomever you desire secure conversations with.
It’s exactly the same principle as running around naked on the beach versus running around naked by your backyard pool behind your seven foot privacy fence. One is foolish and the other has an expectation of privacy.
A bit of thought about whether to use social media at all might be a good idea if you do stupid or illegal things.
What about the 281 Facebook users who were innocent?
No sympathy from me. If you’re dumb enough to post anything you don’t want others seeing publicly on Fedbook, you’ve lost your right to complain.
381 search warrants are just 381 search warrants.
Facebook: “Hey judge, don’t let police look at the things these people posted on Facebook for everyone to see!”
“No sympathy from me. If you’re dumb enough to post anything you don’t want others seeing publicly on Fedbook, you’ve lost your right to complain.”
I agree———it absolutely astonishes me what’s out there.
.
Probably guilty too but not nearly as stupid as the 100 convicted.
If you are going to cheat taxpayers then don't flaunt it.
This is like the 'illegals going hungry because they are scared to get food stamps' story.
If really scared, then get a job.
And the post office, if we can pretend that we're back in the days of the USPS being wholly run by the Federal government. If you'll grant me that, then your description holds up but your conclusion goes wrong. I think they would need specific warrants for each person whose mail they'd want to read.
I have a shooting buddy who is a PI that does Workmans Comp fraud investigations.
Don’t think for a minute he doesn’t use FB to help build his case. And lots of hours sitting in his van with a camera.
But are these “private” accounts or are these public postings? If they are public postings, I think they are fair game. Police shouldn’t need a search warrant to look at and copy your public facebook. I don’t see how you can have an expectation of privacy on facebook.
A “bulk-search warrant”
= = =
Waco Bikers? Similar?
Surprised they actually followed the law instead of making up a new one.
They can’t see mine... Because I don’t have any Facebook activity
Do you use any social media? I’m sure the court’s reasoning is not limited to Facebook.
It's beyond stupid to use Facebook....PERIOD!
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