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FBI pressures Internet providers to install surveillance software
c|net ^ | Aug 2, 2013 | by Declan McCullagh

Posted on 08/03/2013 10:40:40 AM PDT by Jim Robinson

CNET has learned the FBI has developed custom "port reader" software to intercept Internet metadata in real time. And, in some cases, it wants to force Internet providers to use the software.

The U.S. government is quietly pressuring telecommunications providers to install eavesdropping technology deep inside companies' internal networks to facilitate surveillance efforts.

FBI officials have been sparring with carriers, a process that has on occasion included threats of contempt of court, in a bid to deploy government-provided software capable of intercepting and analyzing entire communications streams. The FBI's legal position during these discussions is that the software's real-time interception of metadata is authorized under the Patriot Act.

Attempts by the FBI to install what it internally refers to as "port reader" software, which have not been previously disclosed, were described to CNET in interviews over the last few weeks. One former government official said the software used to be known internally as the "harvesting program."

Carriers are "extra-cautious" and are resisting installation of the FBI's port reader software, an industry participant in the discussions said, in part because of the privacy and security risks of unknown surveillance technology operating on an sensitive internal network.

It's "an interception device by definition," said the industry participant, who spoke on condition of anonymity because court proceedings are sealed. "If magistrates knew more, they would approve less." It's unclear whether any carriers have installed port readers, and at least one is actively opposing the installation.

In a statement from a spokesman, the FBI said it has the legal authority to use alternate methods to collect Internet metadata, including source and destination IP addresses: "In circumstances where a provider is unable to comply with a court order utilizing its own technical solution(s), law enforcement may offer to provide technical assistance...

(Excerpt) Read more at news.cnet.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 1984; benghazi; beseeingyou; bigbrother; bushhassers; cultureofcorruption; doublestandard; fastandfurious; fbi; fbisurveillance; impeachnow; internet; irs; isp; ispproviders; nsa; obamalegacy; obamascandals; obamunism; orwelliannightmare; policestate; providers; spying; stalinisttactics; stonesilence; surveillance; surveillancestate; tyranny; wiretapping
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"AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Comcast, and Sprint declined to comment. A government source familiar with the port reader software said it is not used on an industry-wide basis, and only in situations where carriers' own wiretap compliance technology is insufficient to provide agents with what they are seeking."
1 posted on 08/03/2013 10:40:40 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson
Germany circa 1939 sans the technology.

5.56mm

2 posted on 08/03/2013 10:43:01 AM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: Jim Robinson

Um... NO. If the FBI can violate the Constitution, so can we. NSA and FBI better stop this crap before we get tired of putting up with it and put a stop to it HARD.

Tired of my Rights being infringed upon.


3 posted on 08/03/2013 10:43:30 AM PDT by BCR #226 (02/07 SOT www.extremefirepower.com...The BS stops when the hammer drops.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Go Jim Go


4 posted on 08/03/2013 10:43:39 AM PDT by bmwcyle (People who do not study history are destine to believe really ignorant statements.)
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To: Jim Robinson; All
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5 posted on 08/03/2013 10:44:19 AM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: Jim Robinson

6 posted on 08/03/2013 10:47:08 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: Jim Robinson

.........the FBI has developed custom “port reader” software to intercept Internet metadata in real time.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

More unconstitutional warrantless searches.Look, the fact uis that the Obama administration will use data acquired
tis way to damage its political enemies.

We need to put a stop to this....... NOW~


7 posted on 08/03/2013 10:50:14 AM PDT by Candor7 (Obama fascism article:(http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html))
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To: Jim Robinson
If PRISM the NSA software can log keystrokes without installing a trojan on my system....why would the fbi want anything more??
8 posted on 08/03/2013 10:51:21 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey (Fake BC Explained http://i41.tinypic.com/eqcn84.gif)
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To: Jim Robinson; COUNTrecount; Nowhere Man; FightThePower!; C. Edmund Wright; jacob allen; ...

Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping!

To get onto The Nut-job Conspiracy Theory Ping List you must threaten to report me to the Mods if I don’t add you to the list...

9 posted on 08/03/2013 10:51:52 AM PDT by null and void (You don't know what "cutting edge" means till you insult Mohammed.)
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To: Jim Robinson


10 posted on 08/03/2013 10:52:06 AM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Jim Robinson

DAMN.


11 posted on 08/03/2013 10:53:57 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: Candor7

70% of America has no idea about this and don’t even care....just as long as the shelves are full, fridge is stocked, gas in the car, and access to wifi is available...


12 posted on 08/03/2013 10:54:12 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache (In a world where I feel so small, I can't stop thinking big.)
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To: MeshugeMikey
The point isn't that they can do it.

The point is they want us to KNOW they are doing it.

Rather than have to actively control each and every one of us one-on-one, they want to induce FEAR and let us self-censor and control ourselves.

Induce FEAR to influence behavior.

Isn't that the very definition of TERRORISM?

13 posted on 08/03/2013 10:56:41 AM PDT by null and void (You don't know what "cutting edge" means till you insult Mohammed.)
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To: MeshugeMikey
If PRISM the NSA software can log keystrokes without installing a trojan on my system....why would the fbi want anything more??

(1) The mentality that "More control = better",
(2) The FBI as a bureaucracy wants to ensure its own survival; having NSA's PRISM be found Kosher means it will move into more legitimate/mundane prosecutions, this will, in turn, cause the FBI to lose much relevance and open it to being reduced in size or eliminated altogether,
(3) Professional envy; the FBI might just want in on the action just because.

And it could be combinations of the three.

14 posted on 08/03/2013 10:58:12 AM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: Jim Robinson
When will the CEO's of major private corporations such as trading, banking, investing, oil, consumer goods, etc., rise up and protest this?

It's the private industry that provides the economic engine that is taxed to pay for the government.

What would happen if they all rise up and say "No?"

-PJ

15 posted on 08/03/2013 11:01:54 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: Political Junkie Too

When you are in bed with someone at times it is not easy to say ‘no’. ;-)


16 posted on 08/03/2013 11:06:42 AM PDT by elpinta (Jer. 10:23 - It really holds true!)
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To: Jim Robinson

Active eavesdropping hardware sure simplifies the Feds’ snooping.


17 posted on 08/03/2013 11:06:54 AM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Jim Robinson

18 posted on 08/03/2013 11:08:46 AM PDT by JoeProBono (Mille vocibus imago valet;-{)
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To: Political Junkie Too

“When will the CEO’s of major private corporations such as trading, banking, investing, oil, consumer goods, etc., rise up and protest this?”

Why in the world would they do that? These are the same people that pay congress to pass legislation favorable to them. They own the government, especially the bankers. They don’t care about you or your family except as a rancher cares about his herd. Just shut up and keep working.


19 posted on 08/03/2013 11:12:14 AM PDT by dljordan (WhoVoltaire: "To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.")
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To: Political Junkie Too

Are We Approaching>?

“A Ceausescu Moment”

Abimbola Adelakun: Between Amaechi & Ceausescu http://omojuwa.com/2013/04/abimbola-adelakun-between-amaechi-and-ceausescu/

Mr. President learn from Ceausescu! http://www.wnd.com/2010/10/211825/ Are we near Oboma’s Ceausescu Moment?


20 posted on 08/03/2013 11:14:38 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Once a Republic, since then a State in the US, but it is Still Texas where I live.)
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