Elderly man scared of technology, News at 11
State Rep John Binienda makes news today with a plan to track who’s buying pre-paid cell phones in an effort to show criminals we’re tough on crime. Apparently by showing criminals we really don’t understand technology.
“There has always been a concern that prepaid services in general enable anonymity in wireless usage and that’s in part a concern because it lends to its use by criminals,” said Fedor Smith, an analyst who monitors the prepaid cellphone industry for Boston-based consulting and research firm Atlantic-ACM. “If you’re calling other prepaid wireless costumers, there’s a completely anonymous network of people.”
Government has officially become your mom, searching through your sock drawer every day after you leave for school because Phil Donahue convinced her you were smoking dope.
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This comes only a week after Governor Patrick signed into law H. 4811, Massachusetts version of Jessicas Law, which along the way picked up this amendment (which has nothing to do with protecting kids) while nobody was looking:
SECTION 3. Chapter 271 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 17B, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof following section:-
Section 17B. Except as otherwise prohibited under section 2703 of Title 18 of the United States Code, whenever the attorney general or a district attorney has reasonable grounds to believe that records in the possession of (i) a common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the department of telecommunications and energy, as defined in paragraph (d) of section 12 of chapter 159; or (ii) a provider of electronic communication service as defined in subparagraph (15) of section 2510 of Title 18 of the United States Code; or (iii) a provider of remote computing service as defined in section 2711 of Title 18 of the United States Code, are relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation, the attorney general or district attorney may issue an administrative subpoena demanding all such records in the possession of such common carrier or service, and such records shall be delivered to the attorney general or district attorney within 14 days of receipt of the subpoena. No such common carrier or service, or employee thereof shall be civilly or criminally responsible for furnishing any records or information in compliance with such demand. Nothing in this section shall limit the right of the attorney general or a district attorney otherwise to obtain records from such a common carrier or service pursuant to a search warrant, a court order or a grand jury or trial subpoena.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a subpoena issued pursuant to this section shall not be used to obtain records disclosing the content of electronic communications, or subscriber account records disclosing internet locations which have been accessed including, but not limited to, websites, chat channels and newsgroups, but excluding servers used to initially access the internet. Nor shall the recipient of such a subpoena provide any such records accessed, in response to such a subpoena.
For those of you whose legalese is a little shaky, let me translate ‘In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the AG and DA can get your phone, internet and email records with nothing more than a hunch and a strongly worded letter‘. No really, that’s what it says.
A good week for freedom and capitalism all around. Surely now, with these exciting new tools, we’ll capture that pesky Emmanuel Goldstein!
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2 Responses to “Elderly man scared of technology, News at 11”
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I’ve commented on this topic elsewhere, but generally speaking, I’m very surprised that people don’t expect their conversations to be private. I seem to recall the uproar when the government indicated that they would be easedropping on people’s conversations. Though I understand that tracking down criminals via phone records can be useful, there are other “clues” that can be used without invading the privacy of the many. Just my two cents…
Cheers,
PrepaidWirelessGuy
http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com
Wow, just when I thought Orwell references had become tiresome, you go and dig deep for Emmanual Goldstein-nice work, sir. I’ll be expecting a Johnny Tremain reference in your next post.
As for myself, I was just gonna get a pre-paid for my upcoming stint in Fairlawn rehab-where I’ll be be converting my morphine drip into a dirty bomb in between PT sessions, of course.