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.