mcc (@mcc@mastodon.social)
mastodon.social
Attached: 1 image Basically, a good way to never trust "it's okay, the data is anonymized" again is simply knowing what the "Hemisphere Program" is. https://www.eff.org/cases/hemisphere In short, the US government got access to number from, number to, datetime, length and sometimes location information for every call passing through AT&T's network from 1987 to today. Then they ran an algorithm to de-anonymize every burner phone based on behavior. They did this because maybe some of those burners were used by drug dealers.

As an aside, I'm very much convinced that Signal's primary objective is to gather phone numbers in order to facilitate the US government tracing social networks of people who are already of interest Their main focus isn't on what these people are discussing, they want to know who is talking to whom first and foremost. Signal's subpar user experience is a feature from this perspective. Due to its inconvenience for the average person, those with a strong need or desire to communicate sensitive information are more likely to utilize it.

  • ComradeSalad@lemmygrad.ml
    ·
    4 months ago

    I’m really confused. Why would they need to buy that data from AT&T and why was it assumed they didn’t already have this data? Would they not automatically have it when the call is transmitted through cell towers and satellites which are owned by the government?

    Also why is location data such a sticking point? Your phone has to bounce off the nearest tower to make a call to begin with, which makes it relatively obvious where you and the call receiver are.

    Why would it be assumed that they didn’t already have all this data? Companies collect all of what’s listed in order to charge you for your phone usage, and then they have to store that information for a period of several years, which the government could easily access.