Kevin Bankston Government Quotations

The key distinguishing factor between this and what has happened in the past is, it had always been retail surveillance -- the government targeted specific people and the telecom companies received warrants and allowed it. What we're alleging here is wholesale data surveillance.

This is a great victory for personal privacy rights; our cell phones reveal an enormous amount about us and can reveal everywhere we go, who we associate with and even what we believe in many ways. The government should need to get probable cause before being able to track that information.

The government could then demand these personal files with only a subpoena rather than the search warrant it would need to seize the same things from your home or business, and in many cases you wouldn't even be notified in time to challenge it.