Also, there are two parties violating the law here. The telecoms and the feds. Are you a telecom attorney?
If you're not, I'll wait to hear what the people who actually know what the law is, and means, have to say.
"Are you a telecom attorney?"
The Law is the
US Communications Act of 1934 and it's not particularly complicated although you seem to be having trouble reading it.
It very explicitly prevents the government from gathering personally identifiable information without a court order.
Here is is
AGAIN for your reading pleasure. Please tell me how this can
possibly be construed to mean the government can collect personally identifiable information without a court order.
(h) Disclosure of information to governmental entity pursuant to court order
A governmental entity may obtain personally identifiable information concerning a cable subscriber pursuant to a court order only if, in the court proceeding relevant to such court order -
* (1) such entity offers clear and convincing evidence that the subject of the information is reasonably suspected of engaging in criminal activity and that the information sought would be material evidence in the case; and
* (2) the subject of the information is afforded the opportunity to appear and contest such entity's claim.