re: #160 engineer cat

ok, i suppose you mean this:

According to the Associated Press, in January 2006, 40 websites were offering cell phone numbers, unlisted numbers, and calling records for sale.[11] The AP story reported that operators of such websites insist they are not doing anything illegal because there is no specific prohibition against pretexting to obtain another person’s data unless it involves financial data (the latter would violate the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act). Subsequently, following an FTC sweep of these sites, about 20 reportedly discontinued offering cell phone records.[12]

i must say i’m shocked

but if this is the same information that was in the recent disclosures, then why didn’t the nsa just buy it on the open market?

riddle me that if you will

I think I’m very confused. The link I posted in #123 was to address your question as quoted in #123 and had nothing at all to do with sale of cell phone records but rather was regarding whether the telephone metadata required a search warrant - which it does not, merely a subpoena.

I should make it clear that I have not stated an opinion on what I think should be the law. I was merely trying to address what the current legal requirements actually are.

(Please feel free to make me ruler, though.)