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Even before whistle blowing hero Edward Snowden revealed the deep penetration the US government has impinged on it’s citizens privacy as you use the internet, there were many reports of government institutions spying on citizens, and cellphone records have often been mentioned in those reports. In spite of this, we have as a whole ‘learned’ to accept it.
Cell phone use records offer tremendous insight into any investigation, because of the sheer amount of detailed information about the individual suddenly under the microscope.
Apart from basic contractual information like a subscriber’s name and address, lots of other data is also gathered and stored on file by mobile providers; such as everywhere you have been with your phone.
This database of data includes who you phoned (and they have the same type of data warehoused on your friends too of course), who you received calls from, who you sms’d, what you said, who said what to you, your tweets and facebook activity, your photographs are up for grabs, videos, and again, everywhere you have been.
There is not much left, as the above is already above most people’s imaginations.
Mobile operators also record all ip-addresses and even which websites users visited on the Internet. All this information is available to any government agent with a higher level of clearance than a police officer (or investigator).
From the information which is gathered, mobile operators can apply algorithms to find out when you prefer to wake up, perhaps even how many times you tap snooze, when you went to sleep or other usage patterns. App downloading is recorded, and perhaps every-time, how often, you launch your favorite game.
With the right surveillance order (or perhaps without one) a mobile operator can also relay information about who you associate with. Armed with a valid subpoena, police and other government agents can retrieve recordings of your calls and all your SMS’s; warehoused digitally for years.
A 2013 CNN report exposed that US operators use this data, for marketing purposes in conjunction with third parties. While even though Americans are told that the information is deleted regarding any personally-identifying information before third-party distribution, the vigilant members of society have expressed an uncomfortable feeling with this system. Canadians are thought to be free from such marketing analysis.
Have we said enough, or do we need to say more?
What more should be said? Canada’s 4GooodHosting values your personal and business privacy. That is why we publish blog articles such as this one. We will do everything in our power to preserve your privacy as much as we are able to. We would resist disclosing any information unless compelled to under continuous pressure by law or the legal system. But if such a situation occurs, we will notify you of any disclosure to ‘officials’ or ‘authorities’ as you would deserve to know. Please see out our articles from the past that have also touched on general digital and internet privacy topics.
