A report released by US cell phone companies shows a disturbing spike
in the number of requests by US law enforcement agencies for cell phone
information. Even more disturbing, most law enforcement agencies do not
provide a proper warrant.
The new information reported by the New York Times shows that US cell
phone companies responded to an overwhelming 1.3 million requests from
law enforcement officials to provide cell phone data. The results show a
dramatic yearly increase, suggesting an increasing reliance and
willingness of law enforcement to use the information at will.
The
numbers show anincrease in the number of information requests –from
12per cent to 15 per cent – over the past five years. Interestingly
enough, cell phone carriers can now turn a profit by charging per
request, and have hired their own round-the-clock lawyers to deal with
the possible legal problems that might arise .
For example, the
number of requests fielded by AT & T alone has tripled over the
course of the last five years, responding to about 700 a day. Thirty of
those requests are deemed ‘emergency cases’ which do not require a
warrant.
