If you’re on the lam, you probably shouldn’t update your Facebook status.
According to documents released by Cryptome, the same site that released Microsoft’s confidential Spy Manuals last week, police can easily gain access to Facebook’s volume of personal information. With a simple request to Facebook’s Security Team, law enforcement agencies can gain access to everything from pictures to IP information.
The manual sheds some light on the recent law enforcement trend of tracking down fugitives with Facebook.
While some burglars are idiotic enough to rob a house and check Facebook while doing it, or leave status updates such as “X is breaking into a tavern safe,” or “X is hiding cocaine stash in bag up rear end” (seriously, who wants to read that in a status?), most aren’t. The genius of this method of catching crooks is that most people are so connected to social networking sites that they won’t stop checking them, even while dodging the cops.
Of course, this has major privacy implications as well. While Facebook requires a subpoena and/or a search warrant to access this information, this revelation should serve as a reminder to all that you might not be the only one watching your online actions. It also calls into question Facebook’s deletion policy.
Facebook is hardly alone in this policy, either. Cryptome has also recently released similar guides for Stickam, AOL, Cox Communications, Comcast, Ning and Skype. Most will provide IP information with a subpoena, as well as access to uploaded media.
The availability of this information has helped to take dangerous criminals off of the streets. In all likelihood, it will become an essential tool in police attempts to snare fugitives. However, it should also serve as a reminder to law-abiding users to be very cautious with personal information. You’re not the only one watching.
One more reason for me to use Facebook less.
It helps that Facebook's Director of Security is a former forensic specialist for the FBI and their lawyers are former Federal Prosecutors. Heck, MySpace had an actual EX FBI Special Agent and cyber crime expert doing their security before he moved to Online Intelligence.
Facebook is OK to promote a business but nothing more. Even if most people are legal, privacy is something that should be protected a bit.
EJ…
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Every business can be compelled to provide such information pursuant to a subpoena. I don't understand what makes Facebook any different.
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Every business can be compelled to provide such information pursuant to a subpoena. I don't understand what makes Facebook any different.
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Every business can be compelled to provide such information pursuant to a subpoena. I don't understand what makes Facebook any different.
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Every business can be compelled to provide such information pursuant to a subpoena. I don't understand what makes Facebook any different.
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Every business can be compelled to provide such information pursuant to a subpoena. I don't understand what makes Facebook any different.
???
Every business can be compelled to provide such information pursuant to a subpoena. I don't understand what makes Facebook any different.
???
Every business can be compelled to provide such information pursuant to a subpoena. I don't understand what makes Facebook any different.
The thing scaring most people is that the cops can subpoena IP records.
It is great! If there is any way to help the police with catching bad people that we should really use it. As we can see we find more and more areas the social networks can be helpful in.
most american websites will be more than happy to snitch. this includes facebook, myspace, and the others. america is a police state. dont let that “freedom” propaganda fool you.