I thought texts could be recovered
How long does your mobile phone provider store data for law enforcement access?
By Darlene Storm, Computerworld | SEP 28, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been trying to obtain the when, why and how law enforcement uses cell phone location data to track Americans. Today the ACLU posted the 2010 cell photo data retention chart received from the Justice Department via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
“Retention Periods of Major Cellular Providers” was meant “to advise law enforcement agents seeking to obtain cell phone records.” Mobile phone providers store data ranging from text messages, to pictures, IP addresses, browsing history, cell towers used and call logs.
For example in location tracking, since July 2008, AT&T indefinitely keeps data about which cell towers were used by your phone. Verizon stores your cell-site data for “1 rolling year.” Sprint and Nextel keep it for 18 - 24 months. Virgin Mobile’s is ‘not retained’ but can be obtained through Sprint.
If law enforcement is so inclined as to find out, then the “details” of your text messages are conveniently kept by AT&T for “post paid 5 - 7 years;” it does not retain the text message content. Verizon holds onto your text message detail for “1 rolling year” and your actual text content for “3 - 5 days.” In case you were wondering, the “details” are like text “call” history which generally includes the date, time, sender’s phone number and receiver’s phone number. T-Mobile does not retain the message content, but hangs onto your text details for “pre-paid: 2 years; post-paid: 5 years.” Sprint and Nextel hold text detail for “18 months” depending upon the device. Virgin Mobile which is owned by Sprint keeps text detail for “60 - 90 days” and the text message content for “90 days {search warrant required with “text of text” request}.” Wow, at least one had the decency to mention a warrant is required.
“I thought texts could be recovered”
If a pitiful little crime is committed in Bumf**k, Nebraska, old text messages can be released by the cell provider in a skinny minute. But THESE messages, between THESE specific people, can’t. Riiight.