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Cops Want Congress to Force Wireless Providers to Store At Least 2 Years of Your Private Text Messages In Case They Need Them Later

Dec. 3, 2012 8:15pm Jason Howerton

Law Enforcement Groups Ask Congress to Consider Forcing Wireless Providers to Store Text Messages

(shutterstock.com)

A number of law enforcement agencies across the country are asking Congress to force AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and other wireless providers to record and store Americans’ private text messages for at least two years in case they need the information for future investigations. Those same law enforcement agencies claim that the absence of such a federal requirement can “hinder law enforcement investigations.”

CNET reports that “a constellation of law enforcement groups” want the U.S. Senate to consider the SMS retention requirement when Congress discusses updating a 1986 privacy law for today’s technology. The push by law enforcement to gain access to even more of Americans’ private information will undoubtedly infuriate privacy advocates.

CNET has more details:

As the popularity of text messages has exploded in recent years, so has their use in criminal investigations and civil lawsuits. They have been introduced as evidence in armed robbery, cocaine distribution, and wire fraud prosecutions. In one 2009 case in Michigan, wireless provider SkyTel turned over the contents of 626,638 SMS messages, a figure described by a federal judge as “staggering.”

Chuck DeWitt, a spokesman for the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association, which represents the 63 largest U.S. police forces including New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago, said “all such records should be retained for two years.” Some providers, like Verizon, retain the contents of SMS messages for a brief period of time, while others like T-Mobile do not store them at all.

Along with the police association, other law enforcement groups making the request to the Senate include the National District Attorneys’ Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, DeWitt said.

“This issue is not addressed in the current proposal before the committee and yet it will become even more important in the future,” the groups warn.

The “committee” mentioned is the Senate Judiciary Committee, which OK’d a number of amendments to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act last week that actually protected Americans’ privacy.

The law enforcement proposal does not necessarily indicate whether the contents of the text messages would be stored or just the metadata like the sender and receiver phone numbers. Forrester Research reports that more than 2 trillion SMS messages were sent in the U.S. last year.

To read CNET’s entire report, click here.

Featured image via shutterstock.com

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Comments (74)

COFemale
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 1:03am
This is the very reason I never text message. For all I care they can see each time AT&T send me one to tell me they charged my account. They might get two from my daughter sent to me to tell me to watch her church online to see my grand daughter.

Having said this, it is none of their business and cops can’t dictate what a company stores or doesn’t store. You want to know what texts are sent, you get a freaking wire tap and capture them then or you get a warrant and seize the phone.

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- December4
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 5:38am
  It would be different if an individual needed an old text to benefit them. It is not only so the government can read your texts. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:58am
  All they’ll get on mine is my messages back and forth to my husband while he’s at work, sending grocery lists, etc. Every once in a while my brother in law will text me a question about his nephews or brother. Boring. I’m too boring to even tap my phone lines.
  
  Report this comment
- Watchingtheweasels
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 7:51am
  Citizen, we’ve been watching your grocery buying habits. You haven’t done a very good job of supporting companies like Proctor and Gamble that support the leader’s vision for the country. Now come down to the station so we can discuss this further.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 7:58am
  Well why wouldn’t the cops want text messages now. Congress has given them the green light to invade our privacy and violate the 4th amendment to the point of it not existing anymore. Pretty soon they will want the ability to come into your home for no reason at all to search for “illegalities”. You know, just like the Nazis did.
  
  Report this comment
banjarmon
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:41am
This is a direct violation of the Forth AMENDMENT!!!!

Amendment 4 – Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

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- Wolf
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:41am
  Exactly, Ban. And any cop who wants to negate a person’s Fourth Amendment rights has no problem negating any of the others, most especially the Second. Nor will they have any problems with illegal search and seizure and no-knock warrants, or shooting dogs, children and wives during their entry.
  There’s a lot of debate about whether the military will shoot Americans if ordered to. There’s no doubt the police will not hesitate in the least.
  
  Report this comment
2ndOpinion
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:43pm
I used to work at a cellular provider in northern Michigan. The cops often called asking for current locations for various cell numbers. They got tired of handling all the requests and gave them their own back door access. Central office staff would also track the whereabouts of other employees when they were on vacation.

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jessieH
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:33pm
Just tell them “and the horse they rode in on!”. Gives them something to think about. Their brains need the exercise.

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Beck_Art_-_Obama_In_Pee-Pee
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:37pm
“Texas Cop Shoots Suspect 41 Times — And Police Confiscate Cellphone With Photos of It All”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/texas-cop-shoots-suspect-41-times-and-police-confiscate-cellphone-with-photos-of-it-all/

So-o-o-o, how’s that whole Police “standing army” Department thing working out for everyone (America’s Founders knew what they were talking about when they warned us of it, eh)?

Still not convinced that “cops” are there to suppress YOU? Well than, here’s what’s going on … REALLY:
“LAPD Police-thugs Bravely Subdue Dangerous TV News Camera”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkvNrtk6GJ0

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- Beck_Art_-_Obama_In_Pee-Pee
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:51pm
  BTW, in case the “cops” can’t get their spy legislation through this time, they can just go to TheBlaze for all their illegal spying & tracking info.
  “Ghostery” is blocking 12 trackers on this page alone:
  * ChartBeat
  * DoubleClick
  * Facebook Connect
  * Google +1
  * Omniture
  * Quantcast
  * RadiumOne (nice friendly spy-name that)
  * Taboola (yep, warrant-less searches should be taboo)
  * Twitter Button
  * Visual Revenue
  * Yabuka
  
  Report this comment
Secret Squirrel
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:49pm
.
Since the NSA now saves a copy of every phone call, e-mail and text from every person in America,
why can’t the cops ask them? Oh, yeah, NSA doesn’t talk to the cops.

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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:51pm
  Cops can go f themselves. They don’t investigate squat. They do not have the right to request service providers to essentially spy on all it’s customers who have done nothing, just in case they do something in the future.
  
  Report this comment
soybomb315_II
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:37pm
if you arent doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to fear…..Right?

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- LibertyOrDeath12
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 11:59pm
  Still invades privacy. They need to get warrants for that. They can’t just assume some one is suspicious. People have rights.
  
  Report this comment
jimmyrbowman
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:32pm
Could you tell the cops that there are people in hell wanting ice water too, but oh we’ll…

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Exidor
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:27pm
Go for it. Let’s see what happens. I’m curious. What’s it worth to them?

Come and Take it…..

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scriptor_clm
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:18pm
“There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.” – 1984

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- Advection
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:36pm
  That’s chillingly prophetic. Only the reality is worse. They can now see in the dark.
  
  Also electronics manufacturers are adding cameras that look back at us in TVs, phones, tablets, computers, etc. And the most amazing part is that these manufacturers have agreed to embed “back doors” that allow these devices to be remotely activated, even when they appear to be turned off!
  
  Report this comment
- BlueStrat
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 1:08am
  What good are saving text messages when even somebody like me can figure out how to use a “one-time pad”? How will they decode a year-old text message whose one-time-use unique and random encoding/decoding key was destroyed seconds after it was sent/received/decoded? How will they even know that some random text message is actually a coded message?
  
  Any serious bad-guys like terrorist cells wouldn’t be stupid enough to send incriminating plain-text messages over the public cell network.
  
  This text message data retention is not aimed at terrorists/radicals. It’s aimed at everyday citizens that “get out of line”.
  
  “Give me six lines written by the most honorable of men, and I will find an excuse
  in them to hang him.” — Cardinal Richelieu
  
  I bet Obama and Holder are big fans of Cardinal Richelieu, judging by their actions
  .
  
  Report this comment
Advection
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:12pm
I used to think we were moving towards establishing a police state, but I’ve come to realize that we can see that event clearly in the rear view mirror.

“Welcome to Amerika. Pull down your pants and say ‘Ahh’.”

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fastgen1
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:06pm
1984 is here and thriving, I guess it is time to drop totally off of the radar. Big Brother is watching, and his name is obammy

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DougHuffman
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:52pm
And the cop JBT thugs promise, on their honor, not to read them without due process! Yassuh.

Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. “From my cold, dead hands” works for me.

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- Bert in NY
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:59pm
  I wonder if the police would be exempt from this idea? We should be able to do this to them before they do it to us. Are they not public servants?
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:07am
  Cops are not public servants. They exist to protect the STATE from the peasants. They only “fight crime” when they are bored and don’t have some citizen to shoot or pound their head in or soak them for hundreds of dollars at a whack. Public servants, ha.
  
  Report this comment
dontwannasaynow2011
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:50pm
And I guess the cops are gonna pay for the added cost to each of us that the providers will pass on. Sure, you bet.

And, it’s none of their damned business!

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TRILO
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:48pm
The local police have been co-opted by the Dept of Homeland Security. We are fast approaching the notion that you are guilty and must prove your innocence.

There is absolutely no reason to save the text or phone data of Americans so that police can go trolling for information. We are now officially living in a police state.

This is all part of the internet privacy policy that the Senate is debating. They will tell you that it is to “protect” your privacy. However, this bill does nothing but strip freedoms and liberties from the American sheeple for the new surveillance state.

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justangry
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:44pm
Don’t we support the police state here at the Blaze? R&R got woodies at the thought of crapping on our civil liberties. Most of the GOP does as well. How can anyone here not think this, no due process and airport molestations of our children isn’t a good thing? Are we good statists or not? I don’t want to see any Romney supporters bitching about this.

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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:50pm
  The big brother nanny state is here. Most Blazers support a police state and they support the “chosen people” controlled Juden Marxist Media that spews out leftist propaganda.
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:54pm
  Looks like they’re going to get exactly what they were asking for, and to think, they thought the police sate would only do their bidding.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:57pm
  Is woodie like a flacid paul’s johnson? How is the good doc doing today? All extra indy in suede or plaid? Boots with heels or some old mocs? Flanel or camo to impress? Really, we have been waiting for a paul’s johnson update. BVD’s or brazilian wax with boxers for no reason?
  
  Report this comment
- Mutiny
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:04pm
  It is funny to see all these clowns that were cheering for Romney come on here now and yell about the FED, freedoms, the UN, and other issues that Romney was not going to do anything about.
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:12pm
  Mutiny,
  
  We know what they’re all about; they want just the right amount of oppressive government to keep their government checks coming in.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:13pm
  Muttintea
  It is even funnier to see the enablers and johnson fronters/backers trying to be coy for helping the 0 get another go. Not only are the quasi liberty/windyvidualist full of it, they regress and forget that they and they alone got paul/jonson/barr/elmo a bad wrap all by themselves. Not the actual old doc, stoned mandarin specialists, or sock puppet, the supporters got them sunk and can’t see it. Look at yourselves. Weeee, look away, we are not toking and playing grab ass, go paul’s johnson, liberty and like stuff and maybe perhaps change the world like, if only and he said, and well, no but, **** grabbing sometimes is ok if it’s ok with you, it’s ok with me. And by golly, nothing got through but the wankers sheepses out of the old weed/flee liberty corral. Darn. So, how is the good doc today? Are you guys sure you aren’t ows is drag?
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:18pm
  Mutiny: So Obama gets 4 more years to install his radical Left Chicago Big Brother government , thanks to the Obama’s Divide the Conservatives Campaign ? Hmm. Now It’s funny to see you list all of the ” things Romney wasn’t going to do anything about.” You must be quite the prognosticator . Quite the seer. So what are the next winning lottery numbers ? Inquiring minds really want to know. And also ” how will things shake out for America with Mr. Redistribution ( wink, wink ) in the White House for four more years because conservatives could not get UNITED ??
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:49pm
  They called us unpatriotic when we opposed warrantless wiretaps and spying during Bush years…But now they think they are living out 1984….. Ironic.
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:55pm
  Fubared-
  how does it feel to be a slave? you must like it, you vote to stay that way.
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:58pm
  Barber-
  Obama’s expanded dictator powers were granted him by the republicans. NDAA, patriot act, etc….All republican sponsored theft of our rights. You own it. They can do what they want with you.
  
  Report this comment
JungleTrump
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:40pm
Beck: Stop with the fear mongering already. Call me. We need to talk. America needs something positive to get behind. We need stories that unite us. We need to rally support. Where’s the Beck I remember who promoted virtue, strength and innovation. It’s time to return to the United We Stand Campaign. I realize that advertisers pay for your cable show. But don’t let them dictate your material. Love you Mr Beck, let’s get America back. You had a great ground game during United We Stand. Let’s promote more rallies for freedom.

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- pugczar
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 12:02am
  I second that motion.
  
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Runpainfultruth
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:38pm
Just stoking the flames of civil war

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Seneca264
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:37pm
Law enforcement has been going through a rapid change in the last few years. The police have been empowered by the Bull **** in charge of DHS. The police force is slowly morphing into brown shirts to do Obama’s bidding. Cops are your enemy. Cops are alredy violating the Constitution on a daily basis and it will only get worse. Cops swore to uphold the Constitution. If a cop is violating the Constitution, he is no different than a common criminal and should be treated as such. These pervert cops only have power that we allow them to have. We have the power to take it away very quickly if the cops start really getting out of hand.

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- raderby
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:42am
  a civilian military, just as well funded and equipped. All at the feet of their dear leader.
  
  Marxists are cementing the final details as we breathe right now.
  
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Patrick Henry II
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:33pm
They already do this.

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OldSurfRat
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:23pm
What? Not enough porn on the internet for them.

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- Fubared
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:39pm
  Cop sexting only appeals to certain crowds and demographics, and well it mostly involves hairy dudes all spread eagle and stale donuts in various spots…you get the idea.
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:20pm
Two years huh damn the stasi aren’t messing around are they? Violating the constitution on a daily basis with this and the TSA doing their all to ‘protect’ us.

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- Pantloadian
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:46pm
  If only you’d listened to us liberals when they passed the Patriot Act. But nooooooo, you had to play hall monitor for the conservative paranoia wave.
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:04pm
  Pant,
  
  There were plenty of conservatives against the “Patriot Act”, I don’t think the republican party qualifies as conservative.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:09pm
  Hey Wango,
  
  I guess you missed your Anointed One. Lord Obama, signing the Patriot Act extension in May of 2001? Right? No wonder your diapers are yellow. Pissed on yourself again?
  
  “Obama signs Patriot Act 4-year extension from France”
  
  http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-05-26-senate-patriot-act_n.htm
  
  Come on back and explain this to all of us “stupid people”.
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:20pm
  Pant, the Patriot Act was written by members from both parties and enjoyed broad bipartisan support.
  
  Report this comment
- soybomb315_II
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:52pm
  its true – liberals were concerned about Patriot Act first, when they didnt have presidency. During those times, republicans were in power and called everyone unpatriotic for not supporting it. Now republicans are not in power and cry about civil libertires while the party in power, doesnt seem to care.
  
  Politics in this country is a niightmare…And the people are no better
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 2:15am
  Edit;
  
  May of 2011…..
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 4, 2012 at 6:54am
  Bingo SOY… you & i have chatted about this BS before. No politician ever voluntarily surrenders tyrannical power… ever.
  
  Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:19pm
.
More stinking BIG BROTHER.

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- Polarized America
  Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:37pm
  .
  we need to party like it’s 1983
  
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freeberty
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:19pm
Keep calling these government union thug parasites, heroes, and see how much freedom you end up with.

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kaydeebeau
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:18pm
So are they trying to encourage regular mail delivery? GET out of my life – government.

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