AOL member? Time to rethink that...

[Guest guest]

A

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 13:04:42 -0700 (PDT)

AOL member? Time to rethink that...

 

 

 

And of course, this comes from the UK... because they certainly are

not going to broadcast this here...

 

Any attorneys, doctors, business people, or others out there who might

discuss a patient or a client in your emails/IM messages? How about

big business out there sending memos or " trade secrets " through AOL

email? How do you like the government having that info, and that they

admittedly offer that info to others? Sounds fun, eh?

 

Time to drop AOL and go with another provider... one a little more

" user-friendly. "

 

 

http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a1902.htm#002

 

 

DHS and AOL: An Unholy Alliance

 

October 3, 2005

by Martin McKinney

The Financial Reporter (U.K.)

 

Washington- The American-based internet giant, AOL, wholly-owned by

Time-Warner, has formed a working partnership with the U.S. Department

of Homeland Security to permit unlimited surveillance of the millions

of AOL online members, according to a report from the U.S. Department

of Commerce.

 

" AOL works `closely with the DHS' to supply information on any AOL

customer and allows agents from these entities `free and unfettered'

access to AOL Hq at Dulles, VA for the purpose of `watching over and

keeping surveillance ' on the millions of AOL customers,' according

to the report.

 

The legal basis for this is the recently Congress-approved Patriot Act

which permits warrantless searches of persons and property. While

information gleaned from delving into personal computer messages is

supposed to be kept confidential, it appears that the DHS has exceeded

their brief and obtained what appears to be strictly personal

information which is then circulated to entities outside the DHS.

 

The Department of Commerce report also states that news of this

surveillance has leaked out and is causing serious concern in the

American, and European, business communities who are fearful that

trade secrets may be given to other business entities, considered as

" friendly " to the Bush Administration.