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factchecker
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| reply to amigo_boy
Re: Privacy
said by amigo_boy  :Theofel v. Farey-Jones, 341 F.3d 978, 982 (9th Cir. 2003). It "reflects Congress’s judgment that users have a legitimate interest in the confidentiality of communications in electronic storage at a communications facility." Id. at 982. That's why I said "I'm surprised 18 U.S.C. 2511 and 2702 don't apply." Okay, I see where you are going...
The reason I think they can currently get around that, based on the quick research I did on the case and a second glance at the law is because (a) the full contents of the message and information intercepted are never disclosed or recoverable and (b) the information intercepted can not be traced to a specific person (there are no names or user names to track down people). IP addresses could be used, but in most system, they change often enough that using them isn't reliable means of getting someone's identity, especially since providers probably (that we know of) are not giving Phorm, NebuAd and other companies wholesale access to their RADIUS servers.
The data is basically "anonymized" to a point that must be sufficient under law. As well, the intercepted packets are processed auto-magically and then deleted, meaning that no one actively digs through them. Since no one actually sees what is intercepted, they could legally argue that they aren't in violation of the law because technically, "privacy" still exists.
Whether that is right or wrong or people agree/disagree with it, I'd wager that is how they comply with or circumvent the law... | |
amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
 ·magicjack.com
| said by factchecker :
(a) the full contents of the message and information intercepted are never disclosed or recoverable and (b) the information intercepted can not be traced to a specific person (there are no names or user names to track down people).
Regarding "divulge content," would aggregated or anonymized information (relatable to an individual by IP or cookie) be covered as a "customer record" by Section C? It says a communication provider "may divulge a record or other information pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of such service" under enumerated conditions.
I guess it boils down to whether disclosing a summary of someone's activity and content (where they go, what they say or buy) is disclosure of content. If I summarize to you that Mr. Jones goes to certain types of sites, and uses certain IDs, and says certain things, and buys certain types of books... Is that what Congress had in mind as protecting your privacy because the actual content wasn't divulged?
I'm surprised it doesn't apply. If it doesn't, it seems like it should be (relatively) easy to amend. The spirit of the law is there. It just was written at a time when the envelope wasn't being pushed like it is now.
Mark | |
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