Another Frustrating Abuse of Your Rights – But This Time It’s Not By The NSA

Did you know that the FBI had an interest in call phone spying? Seems the NSA wasn't the only agency that has been tracking cell phone calls from people around the world. -  FUA

The National Security Administration (NSA) is on my short list of Federal agencies that need to be completely disbanded and disappear. They overstep the Constitution with everything that they do. Unfortunately, however, they are not the only group that seems to think that it’s okay to break the law “to protect us.”

This time the story isn’t about the NSA; it’s about the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In December 2012, the FBI ordered state and local law enforcement organizations to keep quiet about FBI surveillance of mobile phones. This requirement is still in effect.

Basically, your local police departments are not allowed to tell you that the FBI can both listen to your mobile phone calls and track you based on your mobile phone’s signal.

Read for more - Survival Institute

Homeland Security conceals plans to shut down cell phone service during emergencies

If San Francisco's BART subway authority can shut down cell phone service, so can DHS, not just during a emergency, but due to the element of power. And, they can bring that initiative to American cities everywhere. - FUA

The Supreme Court was asked in a petition to force the government to disclose the US clandestine plan to disable cell service during emergencies.

The case concerns Standard Operating Procedure 303. A federal appeals court in May said the government did not have to release its full contents because the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows the authorities to withhold records if they would "endanger" public safety.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center told the high court's justices Tuesday that the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit's decision created a new "catchall provision that can be used in any case involving records related to domestic and national security programs." (PDF)

The privacy group had demanded the documents from the Department of Homeland Security in 2011 following the shuttering of cell service in the San Francisco Bay Area subway system to quell a protest. The Department of Homeland Security refused to divulge the documents associated with SOP 303, which the appeals court described as a "unified voluntary process for the orderly shut-down and restoration of wireless services during critical emergencies such as the threat of radio-activated improvised explosive devices."

Under the direction of the so-called National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, SOP 303 allows for the shuttering of wireless networks "within a localized area, such as a tunnel or bridge, and within an entire metropolitan area."

The telecoms have agreed to shutter service when SOP 303 is invoked, but there are no publicly disclosed instances of the measure ever being invoked.

From Ars Technica

NSA tracked calls of 35 world leaders

A memo revealed that back in 2006 the NSA has interest in tracking phone calls of 35 world leaders, thanks to an unnamed US official in the memo that turned over about 200 phone numbers.

So it appears that Germany and Brazil aren't the only nations that were under the watchful eyes of the NSA.

The Guardian (with excerpt of memo)

People protesting NSA surveillance programs in Washington DC

Thanks to the Associated Press for covering this, now people in Washington are protesting the NSA surveillance programs, the collection of data from cell phones and the Internet.

UN group to choose emergency numbers: 911 or 122?

At the International Telecommunications Union meeting in Dubai, member nations will have a say on what numbers can be used for emergency calls, whether its 911 (North America) or 122 (for Europe and other nations).

It is the same meeting in Dubai that debated the control for the Internet, and so far the US backed down on its support on the world issue – but will the US keep its word?

Source: Yahoo

US law enforcement may soon record and trace text messages

Law enforcement in the US may soon turn to cell phone text messaging data for evidence, as they will try to get cell phone providers to retain that data for a two-year period.

A perfect way to gather evidence about your digital life, should you be charged with a crime, or just an invasion of digital privacy?