EFF: The IRS And FBI Are Looking For You On Facebook

The Electronic Freedom Foundation has obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act request that describe how the FBI and IRS use social media websites to investigate persons of interest. The EFF team has learned that several U.S. federal agencies have implemented training courses on how to create fake profiles and search for information using the websites while keeping their real identity secret. The EFF press release suggests that the agencies are taking extensive precautions in using these techniques;

The IRS should be commended for its detailed training that clearly prohibits employees from using deception or fake social networking accounts to obtain information. Its policies generally limit employees to using publicly available information. The good example set by the IRS is in stark contrast to the U.S. Marshalls and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Neither organization found any documents on social networking sites in response to EFF’s request suggesting they do not have any written policies or restrictions upon the use of these websites...

EFF Describes How Govt. Gets Info From Social Sites

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has obtained a number of documents that highlight the ways in which law enforcement is harnessing social media to obtain information about U.S. citizens. Topping the list are training guides from the IRS and the Justice Department.

The IRS released information on a training course that uses information from social networks and sites such as Google Street View to gather information on taxpayers. According to the EFF, the IRS "clearly prohibits employees from using deception or fake social networking accounts to obtain information. Its policies generally limit employees to using publicly available information."...

Feds Look To Facebook To Track Suspects, Make Arrests

MADISON (WKOW) -- If you think embarrassment is the worst that could happen if your photos and ramblings on Facebook are made public, think again. New documents from federal law enforcement agencies show that big brother is, in fact, watching.

An open records request submitted by the Electronic Frontier Foundation turned up internal training documents from the Department of Justice, IRS, and more.

The IRS uses Facebook, other social networking websites, and even Google Street View to track taxpayers.

For more on how law enforcement uses social networking posted by the EFF, click here...

Documents Posted By EFF Concerning Law Enforcement Use Of Social Media

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and UC Berkeley Samuelson Clinic has documents that outline the use of social media by government agencies in investigations from the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Justice Criminal Division. These documents are being released through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case the organizations had filed jointly.

Read the post by the EFF on the documents and future release of records.

In the released documents is a training manual from the IRS (PDF) on how to use social media and Google maps to investigate tax cases. Also under the FOIA case, the Justice Department released a presentation entitled "Obtaining and Using Evidence from Social Networking Sites."...

Documents Detail US Law Enforcement Use Of Social Networks

WASHINGTON — Criminals beware! US law enforcement authorities may be stalking you on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) documents obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reveal some of the ways the FBI and tax agents are allowed to use social networks for investigative purposes.

The documents were posted this week on the website of the EFF after being obtained through a lawsuit filed under the Freedom of Information Act by the San Francisco-based electronic rights group and the Samuelson Clinic of the University of California, Berkeley...

Undercover Feds On Social Networking Sites Raises Questions

The next time someone tries to “friend” you on Facebook, it may turn out to be an undercover fed looking to examine your private messages and photos, or surveil your friends and family. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has obtained an internal Justice Department document that describes what law enforcement is doing on social networking sites.

The 33-page document shows that law enforcement agents from local police to the FBI and Secret Service have been logging on to MySpace and other sites undercover to communicate with suspects, read private postings and view photos and videos that are restricted to a user’s friends...

Read More http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/03/undercover-feds-on-facebook#ixzz0iY5LrIEn