Police: Law Should Mandate Recording and Storing Text Messages

Here we go, again

 AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and other wireless providers would be required to record and store information about Americans' private text messages for at least two years, according to a proposal that police have submitted to the U.S. Congress.

CNET has learned a constellation of law enforcement groups has asked the U.S. Senate to require that wireless companies retain that information, warning that the lack of a current federal requirement "can hinder law enforcement investigations."

They want an SMS retention requirement to be "considered" during congressional discussions over updating a 1986 privacy law for the cloud computing era -- a move that could complicate debate over the measure and erode support for it among civil libertarians.

Comments

[NihilistZerO]

"Fuck the Police" - Ice Cube, Dr Dre, MC Ren and Easy-E.

Original 1988, but the message is eternal 🙂

[Jerryskids]

This is of a piece with the DOJ complaining that requiring warrants for cell phone data would hinder their ability to conduct investigations. But if cell phone companies can be required to construct databases in order to maintain records for two years, what else can be required? Can I be required to buy and use a cell phone, required to use text messaging? Can I be required to open a bank account and use only a debit card so as to facilitate investigating my financial transactions? Can I be reqquired to buy health insurance so as to facilitate the regulation of health care? Oh, wait....