USPS Mail Surveillance Programs

Here is a link to a NY Times article on a USPS mail surveillance program and how it can be abused by law enforcement.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/28/u...ds.html?_r=1

Robert

"At the request of state or federal law enforcement agencies or the Postal Inspection Service, postal workers record names, return addresses and any other information from the outside of letters and packages before they are delivered to a person's home. ... Law enforcement officials say this deceptively old-fashioned method of collecting data provides a wealth of information about the businesses and associates of their targets, and can lead to bank and property records and even accomplices. (Opening the mail requires a warrant.)"

So what they get is who wrote to whom, on what date, without the contents. This doesn't trouble me in the least. In any litigation, this information is not confidential or privileged and would be obtainable in discovery and has been for decades. If you are using a public facility to communicate, I fail to see how you would have an expectation of privacy in this basic metadata.

The first few paragraphs are typical NYT hyperbole in the face of continued free-fall in subscription revenue.

Under statute, the USPS Inspectional Service is the only authority that can open mail other than the addressee. Warrants are sought by other law enforcement but through the Inspection Service. The USPSIS works on mail fraud, threats, illicit activities done through the mails, (such as child porn, lotteries, scams etc.), and monitors mail received by suspect (all under surveillance warrant). Other law enforcement sometimes need warrants to obtain information on suspects in who they are contacting, or what they are receiving from others to link evidence (done without opening). Yes there are sometimes shortcuts, but if you are not into anything hinky... The USPS has a long history in keeping the mails safe from illegal acts especially scams for money... The surveillance is not new news... (It has just become a political sound bite from those who want it eliminated to reach another end).