State and local law enforcement groups want wireless providers to store detailed information about your SMS messages for at least two years — in case they’re needed for future criminal investigations.
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.
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4 Responses
Absurd!!!
They don’t record telephone conversations “in case they’re needed for future criminal investigations” why are text messages different??
Might as well record all phone calls too. Why just text messages?
Sounds fishy. Glad I have nothing to hide.
Imagine if Anthony Weiner was still in office- he’d be screaming at the top of his lungs that a text message doesn’t prove it was the actual person that owns the phone. Look how that worked out for him.