Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Law enforcement seeks greater access to text messages

 FOX 25 News reports that law enforcement is looking to expand access to text messages in criminal investigations.
Organizations representing both police and prosecutors across the United States are lobbying Congress to change current federal privacy laws. 
At present, law enforcement officials do not need a warrant to access cell phone records and the law permits voluntary disclosure of customer communication records.  The number of days providers currently keep text messages varies, with some carriers keeping them as long as 12 days. 
This week the SJC gave the police unfettered access to cell phone call lists. Looking at text messages and emails was not addressed in Com. v. Berry and Com v. Phifer. Read more on this topic at our web page Massachusetts Law About Internet and Online Privacy.