3 ms·

So why wouldn't the investigators follow the appropriate legal process? Now, I'm sure that everything present in this article is true. But I'm worried that the

So why wouldn't the investigators follow the appropriate legal process? Now, I'm sure that everything present in this article is true. But I'm worried that the reason we get this article now (apparently the things the article describes happened 10-15 years ago) is because it's part of someone's job to build support for warrantless driftnet surveillance, mandatory real-ID systems etc. So I think it's fair to ask: why was it so hard to give Facebook the warrant they asked for?

LorenPechtel 8mo ago
Because this was a fishing expedition. Do you let the police have a warrant to examine everyone in a large group?
jacquesm 8mo ago
Note how they didn't say that the legal process wasn't followed just that they didn't want to use their fancy face recognition for a good cause in one very particular instance. > https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1r6wluq/department_of_homeland_security_demands_google/ https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1r6wluq/departmen... Let's see them stand tall then, now that the department of HS is going to make the request, no doubt through the appropriately bought and paid for channels.
- deltoidmaximus 8mo ago
  They probably didn't want a news article drawing attention how creepy and pervasive their facial recognition system is, even if it was actually used for a good cause for once.
  - jacquesm 8mo ago
    That's exactly my take. I've had a similar thing where a car of mine got stolen and I petitioned the police to use their ANPR capability to give an idea of where it went and they said they couldn't even though I already knew that they could. It was a funny conversation. It hinged on 'couldn't' because of 'reasons' vs 'technical ability'.
  - vintermann 8mo ago
    Or, it could be that they didn't get a warrant, and don't want to get into the habit of giving the government things without a warrant (or, given that it's a big US internet corporation, something political in return would probably also work). I'm not saying they're nice, they're not. But it's probably for the best that they don't (or didn't, again, it was 10+ years ago) give government everything they ask for without a warrant. I repeat the question: why would it be so hard to get a warrant?
nprateem 8mo ago
Because they were at an early stage of the investigation doing speculative lead following, which didn't reach the legal standard of suspicion for a court order?

LorenPechtel 8mo ago

Because this was a fishing expedition. Do you let the police have a warrant to examine everyone in a large group?

jacquesm 8mo ago

Note how they didn't say that the legal process wasn't followed just that they didn't want to use their fancy face recognition for a good cause in one very particular instance. > https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1r6wluq/department_of_homeland_security_demands_google/ https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1r6wluq/departmen... Let's see them stand tall then, now that the department of HS is going to make the request, no doubt through the appropriately bought and paid for channels.

deltoidmaximus 8mo ago
They probably didn't want a news article drawing attention how creepy and pervasive their facial recognition system is, even if it was actually used for a good cause for once.
- jacquesm 8mo ago
  That's exactly my take. I've had a similar thing where a car of mine got stolen and I petitioned the police to use their ANPR capability to give an idea of where it went and they said they couldn't even though I already knew that they could. It was a funny conversation. It hinged on 'couldn't' because of 'reasons' vs 'technical ability'.
- vintermann 8mo ago
  Or, it could be that they didn't get a warrant, and don't want to get into the habit of giving the government things without a warrant (or, given that it's a big US internet corporation, something political in return would probably also work). I'm not saying they're nice, they're not. But it's probably for the best that they don't (or didn't, again, it was 10+ years ago) give government everything they ask for without a warrant. I repeat the question: why would it be so hard to get a warrant?

nprateem 8mo ago

Because they were at an early stage of the investigation doing speculative lead following, which didn't reach the legal standard of suspicion for a court order?