Technology

Leaked: Company Guidelines for How Cops Can Access Your Private Online Accounts

Guidelines for how police can acquire information from online accounts like Facebook, AOL, Blizzard and Microsoft, and the types of data stored and for how long were leaked this week by several sources.

CNET reports the law enforcement guidelines as being confidential but some sites are more transparent about what they keep and what police can access without a search warrant. Here‘s what CNET pulled together from each of the companies’ policies:

Blizzard: Logs of Internet Protocol addresses are kept “indefinitely,” according to the company behind World of Warcraft. Sent mail is not retained. Deleted mail messages are not retained.

Facebook: An earlier version of the company’s manual from 2008 said that “IP log data is generally retained for 90 days.” That statement is missing from the newly-released 2010 version, indicating that Facebook now may store data longer (a company spokesman did not respond to that question).

Microsoft/MSN: Hotmail IP logs are kept for 60 days. MSN TV’s Web site logs are kept for 13 days. No logs are kept for conversations taking place through MSN chat rooms and MSN instant messenger. The leaked document is from April 2005, though, and may be out of date.

AOL: IP logs for the AIM and ICQ messaging services are stored for up to 90 days. Customer logs are kept for 6 months. All AOL e-mail, including from portals such as AOL.ca, AOL.fr, and AOL.mx, is stored in its Northern Virginia data center.

As for who leaked the guidelines, CNET reports that AOL, Blizzard and Microsoft were released by Anonymous and Facebook by PublicIntelligence.net, which is refers to as a “Wikileaks-like effort”.

After the manuals were put out on the Internet, Facebook released its full manual for law enforcement, which CNET reports may or may not be coincidence. But in the past other sites have been less apt to have this information go public. According to CNET, last year John Young, who runs the Cryptome.org document repository, posted the manual for Microsoft Windows, which the company then tried to have removed from his site through the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This request was soon after withdrawn.

According to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, email accounts, and other information, hosted third-party servers can be accessed if they are six months old or older without a search warrant. Some are calling for the law to be updated as the technology has evolved since its enactment in 1986. CNET reports that a subpoena usually releases general information from these sites, while a court order may be required for more in depth info.

Comments (43)

  • christianUSA
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:34pm

    Opinion: Problem is what modern cops are doing is investigating/surveilling,{by cameras, internet, cellphone, digital purchases, bank & public records), everyone of US to maximize catching law breakers all without warrants or reason building a gigantic data base of persons movements before the fact of crime or never crime in order convict; But such can and will be used by powerful or rich, or politicians against rivals, enemies, news reporters, to repress liberty, freedom, rights, and imbalance control of disfavored, while kept from civilian use against abusive cops, authorities; like warrantless cell or auto tracking, like the student that was forced to apologized after an hour scolding for a web tweet{cursing of high official not just because of cursing)! But we are kept from police-person public records, surveilling their cells or dispatch, videoing them, tracking their autos, no civilian noninternal monitoring organization, so they maybe free to commit crimes, help drug dealers/criminals! Example cops threaten many cuffed persons with gun for years even in front of other cops but only when caught on camera did any reprimand or action against them take place! Also note that high authorities/officials most exempt/make secret their action from surveillance when many times they are committing crimes, graft, insider pg2 infor/trading, exempt themselves from laws or rules all others of US; for example off duty cops and traffic, trespass, laws.

    Report Post »  
  • SergeantMajor
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:59am

    A word to the wise – you are NEVER anonymous on the Internet. Consider everything that you do to be tracked, monitored, and archived.

    Report Post » SergeantMajor  
  • Sniper48
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 7:14am

    The fact that police (or any other governmental agency) can access ANYTHING we write or say without hesitation or limit is a fact ,and it has always been so. Besides, if they don’t hear or read that which they want, they can merely supply the evidence and give YOU the credit for it. Whether its drugs planted on an innocent person or child pronography placed on a person’s computer through the internet, there is no difference and no way to prove that the cops placed the evidnce (or didn’t).

    Report Post »  
  • voxoffreedom
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:55pm

    LOL… Sgt Rock I think you’re on to something. I find many of the posts here rather interesting from the perspective of what people think is the most outrageous. I take most of it with a grain of salt. Witness the “Y2K” hysteria……and ….nothing happened!

    If you use common sense and keep your information private then there really isn’t all that much to worry about. For all the ballyhoo on this site, I’ve yet to be stopped, searched, or otherwise had my rights taken by any cop or government official. Not to say there aren’t strange things taking place. But we can do without the hysteria…..although it’s funny to read sometimes.

    Report Post »  
  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:07pm

    Thanks for posting that link. I watched the entire film. It was very well done. Two overwhelming thoughts come to mind. First, the fraud and lies of the FDA exposed in this film is probably just the beginning of what we will be the victims of when Obamacare is fully enacted. Secondly, why won’t The Blaze take this ball and run with it? I’m not saying they necessarily have to push the conspiracy of it….but ATLIEST POST A STORY ABOUT IT BLAZE. Once again, thank you for the informaton and the link. This outrage committed by our government deserves some attention.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:07pm

    Eat away at liberties in the name Of safety……How many Americans have been killed since 9/11 by Terrorist? How many Terrorist have been caught due to our lessening of our liberties? Can’t say many..Can you?

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • Joel Knows
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 11:13pm

    When technology, or the ability to do something grows at a faster rate than the ability for humans to evaluate the moral and ethical values of that technology then we have abuse of the technology. Just because someone is able to do something, doesn’t mean it is morally or ethically sound. Of couse, most of those under 35 have not had a strong value system instilled in them by schools, parents, or even in our churches.

    Report Post » Joel Knows  
    • JESUS-IS-LORD
      Posted on November 24, 2011 at 11:52pm

      I feel sorry for all those people who actually put their real names. Social websites is the greatest thing to happen for the government because they didn’t have to do virtually anything to get all the information from those sleeping victims. Do you really think that you have privacy on any internet website you visit?

      Report Post » JESUS-IS-LORD  
    • neverending
      Posted on November 24, 2011 at 11:56pm

      Sadly, least of all churchs anymore.

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:13am

      .. the problem with ‘morally and or ethically sound’ is that today it’s all relative. There is no collective morality and individual honor and integrity are so rare that ethical behaviors are going the way of the Dodo, too.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • Salamander
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:25am

      Commonsense–Much to my surprise, when I Googled “Bronx Science no milk”, it came up 2nd place with my post to The Blaze on the subject! I was checking facts, after the fact, and there it was! I then searched the Bronx Science website and found ‘milk 25-cents’ listed in a menu, which NOW shows up 1st in another search of “Bronx Science no milk”! I don’t know if Google uses my IP to tailor its searches to my own, or if it is just chance (adjusted for recent queries). But, whether or not Glenn has a policy on privacy, the crawlers work it over every day! If I‘m ’found out’, I’ll NEVER be able to run for public office–they’d have a field day with me! Too bad, overall I think I could do a better job than 80% of the bozos who have given away our future while convincing the bulk of our population that we can’t live without their largesse (which is really OUR largesse, transfer payments from one group of citizens, the taxpayers, to another, the government program consumers)! We are stuck so deep in this mire that I don‘t believe we’ll EVER get out of it!

      Report Post »  
    • Captain Crunch
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:16pm

      When I see “Google”….I think “Government”.
      That is why I wont let Google ever install anything in my computer. Better to use Yahoo as a search engine.

      Report Post »  
  • fbanta
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 11:12pm

    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.

    According to the 4th Amendment the police have no right to any personal information without a warrant.

    Report Post »  
    • taxx
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 3:55am

      The problem or the issue is the data is not saved on the citizens computer. It is saved off site where the servers are. It isn’t your home computer where the police are getting the information. I liken it to posting a flier in a hallway of a publicw building where you rent a room. You make think it is private but it is not. The 4th ammendment has recently been extended to vehicles which I disagree with since cars should not be treated like homes. If so then a car prowl should carry the same penalties as a burglary.

      Report Post » taxx  
    • Sayre
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 5:30am

      The issue here is NO the fourth amendment. In nearly every site, such as AOL, MSN, gMail or whatever… when you establish your account with them, you digitally check off your acceptance of their “Terms and Conditions”. Most of these terms and conditions make you agree to the fact that all information you enter into their site, become the sole property of that site. If you don’t like these terms, don’t check the little check-box. You then will not have to worry about them giving your information out, because you will not have an account with them.

      Report Post » Sayre  
    • Salamander
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:27am

      If you dont want anybody to know your business, zip it! If you broadcast your stuff all over cyperspace, don’t be surprised if it comes around and bites you!

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  • 911Patriot
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 10:34pm

    The depravity of those that are in this administration and their ilk are explained here be ready to be sickened as to their agenda: http://www.keynesatharvard.org/book/Sugar_Keynes.html

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 10:30pm

    @jb.kibs
    Like when, we the people, put Obama in Office and he does things neither we nor he has the power to do?

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • jb.kibs
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 8:22pm

    freaking creepers… stalkers, voyeurs, etc… everything they do is illegal, and if you did it, you would be jailed for a long time and have to register on lists.

    Riddle me this… how is it possible for a group of people to hire a person and give them rights which they, themselves, don’t have?

    Report Post »  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 6:43pm

    The can’t access mine. I was smart enough to delete it once I saw through that it is merely a vehicle in which the mentally inept can vent their achievements.

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on November 24, 2011 at 8:22pm

      Napallitano, read me first.

      How Can Police Do This Without A Warrant?

      Soon the Union Thug Police Departments will join with the Occupy Union Thugs and start to Occupy our homes, bank accounts, jobs, and families. The police in 1930′s Germany turned their backs on the German people and joined with the Nazi Party to rule the nation.

      Only TEA can save you now.

      Report Post »  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on November 24, 2011 at 8:41pm

      .
      Guidelines:
      1. There are no guidelines.
      2. See #1.

      Good reason to dump AOL, Facebook, and MSN.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • Cynic-clinic
      Posted on November 24, 2011 at 9:30pm

      Facebook will keep every scrap of names, IPs, sites visited etc.so they can sell the info to the highest bidder–the federal government. Once they have it, it’s Nazi Germany all over again.

      Got your oven pass ready???

      Report Post »  
  • Dubyagee
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 5:32pm

    Well, The sheep outfit is coming off.

    Report Post »  
  • WAKEUPUSA2012
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 5:02pm

    Our goverment is outta control. Resistance to tyrants is obedince to God.

    Report Post » WAKEUPUSA2012  
  • Sgt_Rock
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 4:47pm

    In case anyone cares, the times I as a Police Investigator have used information gleaned from Facebook, Mysapce or other social networking site (say for a gang homicide for instance, gang members love Facebook) it has been gained via a subpoena / search warrant or simply because the idiot didn‘t ’“private” their page. If you put it out there someone is going to have access to it. Frankly, I don‘t understand why anyone would want to post most of the stuff I’ve seen anyway…like anyone really cares about the fact that you just got finished washing your dog or that you have a new Starbucks in your neighborhood. People, from what I have seen you folks put way too much stuff on the internet anyway. Is it a wonder your house gets broken into when you tell the world you’re going on vacation, really? As it stands there are so many open source systems available, that anyone anywhere can find out anything they want about you for less than the cost of a happy meal. The guide described in this article does nothing more than tell cops who at the particular companies like Facebook, Google, Myspace etc to contact with the search warrant or subpoena, and what is and isn’t available and how long the info is stored. The legal way of acquiring this information is so easy that there really is no reason to be subversive or underhanded about it. The solution is simple go live your life, just don’t post every aspect of it online.

    Report Post » Sgt_Rock  
    • BowHuntingTexas
      Posted on November 24, 2011 at 6:01pm

      Man. I saw this coming a long time ago. I said to myself that if I was in HR for a company the first thing I’d do is find out if an applicant for a job had a Facebook / Twitter / Myspace / Webpage or whatever, and take a look on-line and see if there are any “compromising” postings. Sure enough, HR departments in large companies, at least, are doing just that.

      You’re at a party drinking a beer and post a picture of it on-line? Guess what? The whole world can see that if they want to. Get yourself filmed in a Girls Gone Wild video? Guess what? Grandpa and Grandma can enjoy watching it on-line over the Christmas break. So can the manager from IBM you’re interviewing with.

      It’s called the world wide web (you know? that www after the http in a web address?) for a reason.

      If I was in HR 3 questions I might ask myself after seeing what an applicant has posted on-line would be 1) how is this person stupid enough to post something like that for the whole world to see? 2) what does this say about this person’s character? and 3) how would this harm the company if we hired this person and they started posting stuff like this after we hired him or her?

      Report Post » BowHuntingTexas  
    • Brooke Lorren
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 12:05am

      I don’t know… I post stuff online because I make money from it. Although, I never post anything that I wouldn’t want everybody in the world reading 20 years from now.

      Report Post »  
    • taxx
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 4:03am

      I really hate taking the harassment calls because so an so “called me a name over facebook”. I always tell them to get off of facebook, but they never do. Give the world a key to your life and you will get friends and thugs.

      Report Post » taxx  
    • loriann12
      Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:47am

      Have you seen the new commercial where people she doesn’t know start ringing her doorbell and answering her messages that she posted on line…even an old man who says, “We girls got to stick together.” I suppose that one portrayed a stalker/pedophile. they said opening yourself up on line, is just like inviting strangers into your home. That‘s why my 12 year old doesn’t have a facebook account, when a lot of his friends do. He doesn’t like me much for that, but oh well, he’ll get over it. I’m not his BFF, I’m his mom.

      Report Post »  
  • JEB STUART
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 4:35pm

    4 year ago Pres. Bush and Cheney both said the do not use e-mail, facebook or any online social media. I took the hint. I use a proxy server, foxfire and never use sosial networks. If i have something to say to you I will come to your house. …………………………Oathkeeper.

    Report Post » JEB STUART  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 3:44pm

    Big Sister and the Police State of Obama the FINK is here to stay if they have their say.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • junkmaninohio
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 3:19pm

    Anyone with a brain knows not to use facebook. You will be spied upon by every government agency and eventually hacked down the road.

    Report Post »  
  • midnightgolfer
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 3:13pm

    This is kind of a big deal. Hey folks, really, if you’re in the USA, let your politicians know you’ve had enough of their meddling with your electronic information. The way they enforce the CURRENT laws impose costs that YOU absorb, heaven help us all if the US keeps pushing for more.

    It’s not just your privacy you should worry about (and yes you should be concerned about privacy,) but control of your information is POWER.

    Report Post »  
    • macpappy
      Posted on November 24, 2011 at 8:47pm

      Sorry, it’s a lost cause. See, corporate America needs it for marketing, police forces and government want it for security reasons. The politicians will do what the special interest pay them to do. You don‘t have a special interest ticket so you don’t get to play. You just get to pay.
      To get our Reps to vote for what we want we would have to do away with all special interest contributions to any campaign, and only allow face time on CSpan for campaigning.

      Report Post » macpappy  
  • The10thAmendment
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 3:07pm

    The sleaziest hackers and crackers in the world work for the US Government. They aren’t the best, but they are definitely the sleaziest.

    Report Post » The10thAmendment  
  • The10thAmendment
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 3:03pm

    Come on people, we need to energize our thoughts to become more creative in combating illegal invasion of our privacy.

    I’ve created more than 100 accounts with some really nutty stuff. When they (big brother) trace the accounts it’s reveals their our location as the source.

    In truth, anyone who possesses credit of any kind can be traced, tracked, and contained, thru any of the Big 3 credit reporting agencies by the CIA or the FBI, Interpol, and by a nod even local police. Thus, the government.

    People simply need to create ways to pervert their efforts to invade our privacy. It’s simply about the fact that nothing that I do is any of their business. So when Johnny Law traces me, he better slap the cuffs on himself.

    Report Post » The10thAmendment  
  • JohnHW
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 2:56pm

    NO ACCESS should be allowed to private unless the police, FBI, TSA, etc., go to an independent COURT and present information, under oath, and from a reliable source, that there is a need to access information to investigate a CRIMINAL matter only. No fishing allowed.

    Report Post » JohnHW  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 24, 2011 at 2:42pm

    I am for Policing Crime… NOT THOUGHTS!

    Report Post » lukerw  

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