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Should the Government be allowed to do broad searches of social media to find criminals?

Should the Government be allowed to do broad searches of social media to find criminals?

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craig

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AI says it already does.
The short answer to “Can police get investigative facts about me without a warrant?” is yes, they can. Any information you provide to social media that is not expressly marked as private is available to the public, law enforcement included.
 
Interesting question. Certainly they can search social media without a warrant now. If I'm wanted by the cops they'll check my social media for clues as to where I might be or who my friends and relatives are that might know where I am or who might be hiding me.

But a broad search as a way to identify criminals? Seems big brotherish. I'm sure China does it but they're hardly a ringing endorsement for surveillance practices.
 
Uh, yeah, police can definitely search any public social media AFTER they are notified of a crime, and have a short list of suspects.

They'll need either a warrant, or someone's cooperation, to see private messages.

Even knowing that yes, some criminals really are dumb enough to post evidence of their criminal behavior on social media: I'm highly confident the police do not have the resources to trawl social media looking for evidence of crimes that haven't been reported yet.
 
Visbek said:
I'm highly confident the police do not have the resources to trawl social media looking for evidence of crimes that haven't been reported yet.
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The NSA does.
 
I was aware of the government doing this 20+ years ago. I'm sure it's only gotten worse.
 
They can come lookin' for me up in the wilderness in Canada and good luck to 'em.
 
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Post it for all to see, that includes law enforcement.

If it's possibly incriminating, having to do with an active investigation, that's on you for being dumb enough to put it out there. Expect questions.

Private; that's another matter. But if deemed an interest and found to be valid, expect a warrant for a look-see.
 
It's probably the same as surreptitious DNA.
 

Yep. It is like walking in public and them getting your picture from CCTV cameras...



.
 
Visbek said:
The NSA has an enormous budget and staff, and if there's no warrant, they're limited to international communications.
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Weren't they the illegal wiretaps guys?
 
I am flabbergasted by the idea that anyone could have an expectation of privacy on social media.

Besides, even if by some bizarre ruling someone decided that social media posts were private information, the government can just buy your information from the owner.

(you are not the owner)
 
Visbek said:
The NSA has an enormous budget and staff, and if there's no warrant, they're limited to international communications.
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Not true. They are supposed to be limited to international communications but in reality they tapped into the domestic trunks a long time ago.
 
BirdinHand said:
Is someone operating under the presumption that this doesn’t already occur?


I’m confused.
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I thought a warrant was required. How did the government that we elected allow this to happen?
 
I'm pretty sure algorithms exist to mass scan stuff like that (think facial recognition type software)
 
Visbek said:
The NSA has an enormous budget and staff, and if there's no warrant, they're limited to international communications.
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The NSA is seven times the size of the CIA.

I learned that from Good Will Hunting!!


.
 
craig said:
I thought a warrant was required. How did the government that we elected allow this to happen?
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A warrant for what? Observing you in public? If the police are in public and observe you with drugs in public, they can arrest you. The police can not do that if you are in a private area or one not observable from public, like your house... that is when they need a warrant.


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I am in my house now. Isn't a warrant required to get a posters identity?
 
craig said:
I am in my house now. Isn't a warrant required to get a posters identity?
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No.

The analogy is between being physically in public and being on the net in public.

If you put privacy measures in place, like you can here about people viewing your profile, then that is like being in your house with curtains drawn and doors shut. If you just post here, like you and I are doing... that is public.

.
 
Cope said:
Clearly we know you are craig, since you are putting that information out into public space ...
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Should I expect a knock on the door? This is getting dystopian.
 

There is no expectation of privacy posting to open sources like social media. i’ve used social media postings for background on employees for things like sensitive data access for clients all the time. In fact there are a multitude of candidates I’ve eliminated from consideration for employment, promotion or expansion of their duties based on their social media, among other things.

Please be aware of that. Potential employers, landlords, etc. do check your social media these days. They’d be foolish not to. You leave it hanging out there. Why not check it.
 
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