Federal Source to ABC News: We Know Who You're Calling

ABC News ^ | May 15 2006 | Brian Ross and Richard Esposito

[mewzilla]

H.R.4922 (Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act-10/25/1994 Became Public Law)

[Steely Tom]

How many times does it have to be said that Smith v. Maryland does NOT answer the question of this program's legality? That case concerned the constitutionality of pen registers. It had nothing to do with the legality of this program with respect to several federal laws. (Something doesn't have to violate the Constitution to be illegal you know.)

It sounds like you're saying that, although it's legal for the government to acquire lists of telephone numbers called by (and calling into) a particular number, it's not necessarily legal for the government to analyze lists of those numbers in a search for patterns of communication?

[return to sender]

Actually the number is 1-800-Dem-ocra. Leave off the last t - that's the t for treason!

[Doctor Stochastic]

Think how nice it would be to know who your campaign opponent has called.

[MEGoody]

Oh puhleeze.

[subterfuge]

And if Hillary Clinton gets in power, she'll be doing this to FNC, and she WILL use it to make leakers disappear into the night. Scary.

Right. As if any of this would have any bearing on what laws she would break. She already thinks the law doesn't apply to her.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

So, is the Swimmer's number 1-800-Dem-orca?

[colorcountry]

Your posting history in interesting to say the least.

[MEGoody]

That is the problem with the government database - it gets calling data for everyone, not just those with suspected ties to terrorism.

Yeah, and we all know that terrorists keep the same phone number for years and years! :::sarcasm off:::

[dirtboy]

Right. As if any of this would have any bearing on what laws she would break. She already thinks the law doesn't apply to her.

The point is, she would come into office with the precedent that she can get whatever data she wants from the private sector and do whatever she wants to with it.

Not a good thing.

[oceanview]

so what? are you telling us you will only be happy when the government is hobbled in its use of technology, below the level of telemarketer boiler-room capability?

its obviously not possible to get court orders for specific persons call data in advance - because the purpose of this program is to try and identify these people BEFORE they commit terrorist acts. to mine them out, you have to have all the data before you actually know who they are - so court orders are not possible.

absent programs like this - what you are essentially telling us is that we have to accept the Dems model for domestic anti-terror - use the judicial system. remember, our court and our law enforcement apparatus in this country are not designed to thwart crime before it happens, its really a system mostly designed to punish those who commit crimes AFTER THEY OCCUR. that's not what most americans want to hear regarding the domestic war on terrorism.

[mysterio]

I'm not ok with this. What if a dem wins next? I WANT whistleblowers calling the news networks on that administration. And so will you. Have a little foresight.

[Marine_Uncle]

"A senior federal law enforcement official tells us the government is tracking the phone numbers we call in an effort to root out confidential sources."
Surely the L/MSM will turn this around to make it look like the government is targeting the free press. And lots on the Hill and elsewhere will scream to the high heavens how unjust this administration is.
But perhaps the Intel Agencies and the L/MSM now realize leaks will be investigated. The freepress has a duty. And it obviously in so many cases has overstepped it's boundaries in issues of national defense.
At the same time I can see where it is a very competitive business. And the press would not get news if Intel/military did not leak stuff.
Who leaked, say to ABC, the news regarding CIA predator operations. Should they not also be investigated. This all is a two way street.
Quite complicated in many respects.

[oceanview]

Nifong could get a court order for call records in about 10 seconds - for every single one of the Duke players (and probably already has).

[jiggyboy]

Is it my imagination or does every episode of Law and Order and every other cop show have the investigators pulling the suspect's phone records about four times an hour?

Yep. And the old "keep him on the line, we almost have it traced!" routine has been obsolete for years, but I still see it on TV shows on a regular basis. Maybe this disconnect is why people are so shocked.

[dirtboy]

so what? are you telling us you will only be happy when the government is hobbled in its use of technology, below the level of telemarketer boiler-room capability?

No. And I can come up with ways with some level of evidentary process that gets the government access to calling data.

However, do you really think this will stop with terrorism? Next, it will be tracking drug deals. And then, tracking political opponents and whistleblowers.

what you are essentially telling us is that we have to accept the Dems model for domestic anti-terror -

No, I am not. I am OK with the NSA warrantless monitoring program, because there is some level of probable cause tied to it. There is none with this database. And that is where the danger lies.

[geezerwheezer]

You sure of that telephone number? I thought it was 800-Dumba$$.

[mewzilla]

I WANT whistleblowers calling the news networks on that administration.

There are already avenues in place for whistleblowers that protect both the whistleblower and the national security.

Oddly enough, none have been used by these so-called whistleblowers.

That ought to tell you something.

[DCPatriot]

I am sooooo far from being a computer maven but.....

With DIGITAL technology, the suspected phone numbers logs can be transcribed with a few clicks.

I'm glad the government has the means to track down treasonous b*stards....as long as it purely used in the War on Terror and not by just any police agency.

[dirtboy]

Nifong could get a court order for call records in about 10 seconds - for every single one of the Duke players (and probably already has).

Now, give him a database where he can search second and third and fourth and fifth generation calling.