The FBI Is Now Asking ISPs To Become One of Their Paid Informants

[ChicanoPwr]

FBI cuts Carnivore Internet probe
Commerical software now now used for investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The FBI has effectively abandoned its custom-built Internet surveillance technology, once known as Carnivore, designed to read e-mails and other online communications among suspected criminals, terrorists and spies, according to bureau oversight reports submitted to Congress.

Instead, the FBI said it has switched to unspecified commercial software to eavesdrop on computer traffic during such investigations and has increasingly asked Internet providers to conduct wiretaps on targeted customers on the government's behalf, reimbursing companies for their costs.

<snip>

FBI spokesman Paul Bresson said the bureau moved to popular commercial wiretap software because it was less expensive and had improved in its ability to copy e-mails and other communications of a targeted Internet account without affecting other subscribers.

"We see the value in the commercially available software; we're using it more now and we're asking the Internet service providers that have the capabilities to collect data in compliance with court orders," Bresson said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/01/18/fbi.carnivore.ap/index.html

[meisje]

1. Where have you been?

This has been going on for a while.

[AuntiBush]

2. That's real nice!

We've just entered the twilight zone!

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. So, what does it mean when your ISP connection drops off once

an hour, and takes a minute or so to reconnect?

[lectrobyte]

5. You don't have to worry about making backup copies, the nice

gentlemen at your local eff bee eye office have it all saved away already.

[sarcasmo]

4. How many amendments does this violate?

[ChicanoPwr]

6. More like what part of the Constitutional...

do we have left. Oh that is right, the neo-cons did leave us the 2nd Amendment.