USPS uses “spying” programs similar to NSA
Jul 5, 2013 6:29:48 GMT -5
Post by popcorn on Jul 5, 2013 6:29:48 GMT -5
Report: Postal Service uses “spying” programs similar to NSA 
Approximately 160 billion envelopes, packages and postcards were photographed by the United States Postal Service last year, reports The New York Times.
It was done as part of the Mail Isolation Control and Tracking program, according to The Times, in which Postal Service computers take pictures of the exterior of every piece of mail that passes through the system.
It’s one of two programs The Times says shows that postal mail is under similar surveillance to phone calls and emails by the National Security Agency.
Letters and packages cannot be opened without a warrant. The tracking program reportedly only collects images of the outsides.
“Looking at just the outside of letters and other mail, I can see who you bank with, who you communicate with — all kinds of useful information that gives investigators leads that they can then follow up on with a subpoena,” James J. Wedick, a former FBI agent who spent 34 years at the agency, told The Times.
It is not known how long the government saves the images.
read more:
www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57592319/report-postal-service-uses-spying-programs-similar-to-nsa/
Approximately 160 billion envelopes, packages and postcards were photographed by the United States Postal Service last year, reports The New York Times.
It was done as part of the Mail Isolation Control and Tracking program, according to The Times, in which Postal Service computers take pictures of the exterior of every piece of mail that passes through the system.
It’s one of two programs The Times says shows that postal mail is under similar surveillance to phone calls and emails by the National Security Agency.
Letters and packages cannot be opened without a warrant. The tracking program reportedly only collects images of the outsides.
“Looking at just the outside of letters and other mail, I can see who you bank with, who you communicate with — all kinds of useful information that gives investigators leads that they can then follow up on with a subpoena,” James J. Wedick, a former FBI agent who spent 34 years at the agency, told The Times.
It is not known how long the government saves the images.
read more:
www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57592319/report-postal-service-uses-spying-programs-similar-to-nsa/