FOIA: Social Networking Monitoring
EFF, working with the Samuelson Law, Technology, and Public Policy Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Samuelson Clinic), filed suit on December 1, 2009 against a half-dozen government agencies for refusing to disclose their policies for using social networking sites for investigations, data-collection, and surveillance.
Deeplinks Posts
- March 30, 2011 House Oversight Committee Investigates DHS FOIA Review Practices—EFF's Requests Were Singled Out
- January 20, 2011 Social Media and Law Enforcement: Who Gets What Data and When?
- October 29, 2010 DHS Singles Out EFF’s FOIA Requests for Unprecedented Extra Layer of Review
- October 13, 2010 New FOIA Documents Reveal DHS Social Media Monitoring During Obama Inauguration
- October 12, 2010 Applying for Citizenship? U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Wants to Be Your “Friend”
- August 16, 2010 Government Uses Social Networking Sites for More than Investigations
- August 10, 2010 Government Finds Uses for Social Networking Sites Beyond Investigations
- March 16, 2010 EFF Posts Documents Detailing Law Enforcement Collection of Data From Social Media Sites
Press Releases
- December 01, 2009 Lawsuit Demands Answers About Social-Networking Surveillance
In The News
- NEW YORK TIMES | February 17, 2011 As Online Communications Stymie Wiretaps, Lawmakers Debate Solutions
- HUFFINGTON POST | February 17, 2011 FBI Wants To Expand Internet Wiretapping
- CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING | January 27, 2011 When can cops gain access to my personal info on Facebook?
- TECHNORATI | January 25, 2011 The E.F.F. Discloses How Social Media Sites Hand Your Data to Law Enforcement
- THE HILL | October 15, 2010 DHS using social media to check for marriage fraud
- THE ALYONA SHOW | October 14, 2010 Govt. Spying via Facebook
- DEMOCRACY NOW | October 15, 2010 US Agents Spying through Social Networking Sites
- FOX NEWS | October 14, 2010 Federal Agents Urged to 'Friend' People on Social Networks, Memo Reveals
- CBS NEWS | October 14, 2010 Homeland Security Harvested Social Network Data
- THE HUFFINGTON POST | October 14, 2010 U.S. Government Exploits Our Facebook 'Narcissism' To Detect Fraud, Fake Marriages
- GAWKER | October 13, 2010 Inside the Government's Facebook Spy Operation
- FORBES.COM | October 13, 2010 Feds Scoured Facebook And Twitter For Obama Inauguration Security Threats
- LAW TECHNOLOGY NEWS | May 15, 2010 Where Were You During the Social Media Boom?
- WALL STREET JOURNAL BLOGS | March 19, 2010 Q&A: Lawyers, Ethics and Social Networking
- ECONOMIST BLOGS | March 16, 2010 In cyberspace, no one knows you're a Fed
- WIRED NEWS | March 16, 2010 Undercover Feds on Social Networking Sites Raise Questions
- ASSOCIATED PRESS | March 16, 2010 Break the law and your new 'friend' may be the FBI
- NPR - MARKETPLACE | February 04, 2010 A friend request from the U.S. gov't
- NEW YORK TIMES | December 12, 2009 Editorial: Twitter Tapping
- BLOOMBERG | December 02, 2009 U.S. Sued by Privacy Group Over Use of Facebook, Twitter Data
- COMPUTERWORLD | December 02, 2009 Lawsuit seeks information on federal surveillance of social networking sites
- EWEEK | December 03, 2009 EFF Sues DOJ For Sleuthing Practices on Facebook, Twitter
- ARS TECHNICA | December 02, 2009 EFF sues feds: tell us how you use Facebook for cyberstalking
- CNET NEWS | December 01, 2009 EFF sues feds for info on social-network surveillance
Document Search
Common Words Within Documents
allowfullscreen allowscriptaccess embed height manual mytubes name networking object param secret service social src type value width wmode wwwyoutubecom xshockwaveflash
Documents
Social Media Law Enforcement Guides
FOIA Releases
- January 24, 2011
Secret Service ECPA Consensual Interceptions Manual[PDF, 412.00 KB] This manual discusses how the Secret Service can tap phone and electronic communications when one or more parties have consented to the interception.
- Secret Service ECPA Non-Consensual Interceptions Manual[PDF, 1.37 MB] This manual discusses the procedures Secret Service agents should follow when they intercept phone or electronic communications without any party's consent to the interception.
- Secret Service ECPA Procedure Manual[PDF, 233.12 KB] This manual discusses Secret Service's interpretation of the legal and administrative procedures that must be followed to obtain information under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Compare it with the Department of Justice Computer Crime and IP Section (CCIPS) Manual, available here.
- Secret Service Records Disposition Manual[PDF, 130.27 KB] Manual that discusses how long Secret Service maintains various records.
- Secret Service Stored Communications Procedure Manual[PDF, 144.94 KB] This manual discusses the procedures Secret Service agents should follow to access stored wire and electronic communication and transactional records under the Stored Communications Act.
- October 12, 2010
FBI Dark Web Emails[PDF, 89.68 KB] FBI emails reveal the FBI’s interest in the University of Arizona’s Dark Web Project.
- FBI Intelligence Information Report Handbook[PDF, 63.20 KB] FBI Intelligence Information Report Handbook which mentions using “covert accounts” to access protected information.
- Secret Service Internet Use Policy[PDF, 213.05 KB] Secret Service Internet Use Policy. Includes recommendations on how to avoid leaving “electronic footprints” by using “stand-alone” computers with “anonymous accounts from an ISP” during surveillance.
- Social Networking Monitoring Center Slides - DHS[PDF, 425.86 KB] Presentation from DHS about social networking site monitoring leading up to the 2009 Inauguration.
- US Citizenship & Immigration Memo on Importance of Social Networking Sites[PDF, 89.29 KB] May 2008 memo by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about using social networking sites to investigate fraud in citizenship petitions.
- May 28, 2010
CIA Social Networking Documents[PDF, 276.46 KB] Discuss the CIA’s so-called Open Source Center, established in 2005, which has been collecting information from publicly accessible Internet sources such as blogs, chat rooms and social networking sites, in addition to monitoring radio and television programs.
- May 14, 2010
DEA Social Networking Presentation[PDF, 4.84 MB] DEA Social Networking Presentation Discusses how to use social networking sites and social media in investigations.
- ODNI study[PDF, 1.90 MB] 2008 ODNI study on the potential of Internet searches in government security clearances
- March 3, 2010
"Obtaining and Using Evidence from Social Networking Sites"[PDF, 853.94 KB] August 2009 presentation from the Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section
- January 11, 2010
"Internet Research Tools"[PDF, 1.88 MB] A 2009 training course on internet tools and techniques to teach IRS employees how to gather information about taxpayers and research their online activity
- Internal Revenue Manual excerpt: "Prohibited Uses of Government IT Resources"[PDF, 176.52 KB] Examples of prohibited uses of government IT resources dated March 31, 2008
- Internal Revenue Manual excerpt: "Specific Requirements"[PDF, 21.86 KB] IRS policy on inappropriate internet use dated November 30, 2007
- Internal Revenue Manual excerpts: "Definition of Media," "Media Responsibilities"[PDF, 59.21 KB] IRS policy on employee use of media dated November 24, 2009
- Internet Content Filtering Change Request Form[PDF, 169.84 KB] Undated form for IRS employees to request permission to access internet sites that they are otherwise not allowed to visit using government IT resources
- January 24, 2011
Secret Service ECPA Consensual Interceptions Manual[PDF, 412.00 KB]
Legal documents
Civil Action No. 09-cv-05640-SI (N.D. Cal. filed December 1, 2009)
Want to learn how you can defend free speech, stand up for privacy, fight for government transparency, support consumer rights, and protect your right to innovation in the digital world? Visit http://eff.org/fight to find ways to help.
