Yikes!
Carriers report massive spike in cellphone surveillance by US law enforcement
New reports from major cellphone carriers are confirming what many have long suspected: demands for subscriber information by members of US law enforcement are rising exponentially. The reports, released in compliance with a Congressional inquiry, show an enormous increase in police and government surveillance on the mobile front over the past five years, with carriers stating they have responded to an alarming 1.3 million requests for location data, text messages, and other private information in the last year alone.
Among the most shocking figures, AT&T now receives an average 700 requests per day, around 230 of which are considered "emergencies" and do not require a warrant or subpoena. Sprint's numbers are even greater, totaling an...