Phone Companies Failed To Warn Senators About Surveillance, Wyden Says 31
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) revealed in a new letter to Senate colleagues Wednesday that AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile failed to create systems for notifying senators about government surveillance on Senate-issued devices -- despite a requirement to do so. From a report: Phone service providers are contractually obligated to inform senators when a law enforcement agency requests their records, thanks to protections enacted in 2020. But in an investigation, Wyden's staff found that none of the three major carriers had created a system to send those notifications.
"My staff discovered that, alarmingly, these crucial notifications were not happening, likely in violation of the carriers' contracts with the [Senate Sergeant at Arms], leaving the Senate vulnerable to surveillance," Wyden said in the letter, obtained first by POLITICO, dated May 21. Wyden said that the companies all started providing notification after his office's investigation. But one carrier told Wyden's office it had previously turned over Senate data to law enforcement without notifying lawmakers, according to the letter.
"My staff discovered that, alarmingly, these crucial notifications were not happening, likely in violation of the carriers' contracts with the [Senate Sergeant at Arms], leaving the Senate vulnerable to surveillance," Wyden said in the letter, obtained first by POLITICO, dated May 21. Wyden said that the companies all started providing notification after his office's investigation. But one carrier told Wyden's office it had previously turned over Senate data to law enforcement without notifying lawmakers, according to the letter.
Bullshit (Score:2)
Re:Bullshit (Score:5, Insightful)
You misunderstand, read TFS again.
The esteemed senator isn't worried about mass surveillance of the serfs, he's worried about the state spying on him personally.
It is a totally different perspective on surveillance from yours.
"What the Ox suffers, Jupiter doesn't", however that sounds in real Latin.
Re: (Score:3)
"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." - Orwell
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, that one.
As told by Snowball.
Re: (Score:2)
If it were any other senator, sure. (Score:5, Insightful)
The esteemed senator isn't worried about mass surveillance of the serfs, he's worried about the state spying on him personally.
Normally, I would agree completely with you but Wyden has been very consistent on his position regarding electronic privacy. He's the one who questioned NSA Director James Clapper about mass surveillance and then Clapper lied under oath about it. He was one of the 10 senators that actually vote against reauthorizing the Patriot Act and spoke against it because it allows the collection of "a vast array of business records, emails, phone numbers, [and] even DNA from anyone deemed 'relevant' to an investigation." When it comes to technology, Wyden has been one of the few voices of sanity that is pushing for the common good.
I'm not saying he's perfect but Wyden has a documented history of showing concern for "the serfs".
Re: (Score:2)
I was commenting on general principles, good to know there are exceptions like this person then. More power to him, the general sad condition of politics notwithstanding. Support him then, the case, while not in the context the OP was placing it in, is important - is always a scandal when the government of a democratic country is listening on the private communications of the opposition.
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So "special strokes" for "special folks" eh?
Very typical of "priviledged class" politicians.
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Not entirely. It is important up to a point to limit the ability of the the executive to listen to the conversations of elected representatives.
But given the context of the comment (original post) and the brief summary I mistakenly assumed this guy is a typical hypocrite, who only complains about things when they concern him personally.
I was corrected [slashdot.org], so while I stand by the comment in general, it appears that in this specific case my sarcasm directed at the senator wasn't warranted.
Re:Bullshit (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: Bullshit (Score:2)
But ⦠but, isnâ(TM)t it like this?
âoeIf you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fearâ.
What about my phone? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Nothing peasant. Now eat your porridge.
Re: (Score:2, Offtopic)
porridge
Porridge?? That's grain you planet wrecking democracy destroyer. Now shut up and eat your beetle flakes.
Re: Maybe another contract takes precendent? (Score:2)
Bribes duh
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They still use those 1-900 lines from the 90's. Can't have that coming out.
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Don't think an NDA over-rides law... now if they are an intel agency, they have alternative mechanisms/laws/acts/executive orders to skirt the law and legally override this law requiring the telcos to notify the senator. Most most law enforcement agencies shouldn't have the ability to do this - FBI, and some intel agencies have dedicated resources/procedures for these sorts of investigations.
As for why it's important to notify is simple - senators are sometimes points of contact for whistle blowers - pote
Re: (Score:1)
Don't think an NDA over-rides law...
Well normally that would be decided by the courts
But Trump has done away with that inconvenience.
Ask Trump which is more important.
Senator Helpdesk (Score:3)
My employer makes recommendations about phone security to everyone and provides more personalized security attention to our execs and other employees in sensitive positions. Senators and their staff are certainly targets; one would think there would be someone other than another senator would doing the same for them, but our government is weird.
World's Smallest Violin (Score:1)
I'm going to cry me a river over the people who created the surveillance state being surprised to know that it can be used against them. This is literally what every security expert in the history of the world has been trying to tell them for decades, starting back as far as the Clipper chip absurdity. As soon as you introduce back doors that allow spying on people, regardless of intent, they will be used to cause harm
And these folks wonder why we no longer trust anything without end-to-end crypto.
F**k '
NSL? (Score:3)
Heck... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
They do.
There is a legitimate separation of branches at issue here. Particularly, the executive branch secretly spying on the legislative branch. By requiring notification, the members of the legislative branch have an opportunity to ensure the judicial branch is going along with it.
Re: What's good for the goose is good for the gand (Score:2)
Obviously any search engine will tell you it was Mitt Romney. I can't believe i got modded troll for this. The Russian bots must be in heat tonight.
How sad (Score:2)
Another congress critter who thinks he is significant.
Of course the right answer is for all such instructions to have large fines or mandatory prison terms for the perpetrators attached to them. You didn't obey that instruction? Your company will pay 5% of global annual turnover. Won't happen of course, but we're allowed to fantasise, at least at the moment.