Police Use Data Brokers to Get Phone Records

A new report is suggesting federal and local police across the nation are using phone records from private data brokers to catch criminals - but they're doing it without subpoenas or warrants.

The Associated Press' Ted Bridis and John Solomon are reporting the data brokers have "broken into customer accounts online and tricked phone companies into revealing information." Bridis and Solomon say they have obtained documents indicating this is occurring.

Bridis and Solomon say agencies of the Homeland Security and Justice departments -- including the U.S. Marshals Service -- and city police departments in California, Florida, Georgia and Utah are among the agencies participating in this practice.

"There's a good chance there are some laws being broken," Kentucky Rep. Ed Whitfield told the pair. According to Bridis and Solomon, Whitfield's committee, the House Energy and Commerce investigation subcommittee, gathered documents that show how data brokers use trickery, impersonation and technology to gather phone records.

The police agencies told the pair they used the brokers because it was quicker and easier than getting subpoenas, and their lawyers believe their actions did not violate the Fourth Amendment's guarantee against unlawful search.

The records gathered by Whitfield's committee also list some of America's most famous corporations as purchasing information on people from data brokers.

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