Verizon Transparency Reports
Meanwhile, Verizon today became the first major telecommunications company to issue a transparency report about its interactions with the government when data about user activity is sought.
Published by The Lawfare Institute
in Cooperation With
Meanwhile, Verizon today became the first major telecommunications company to issue a transparency report about its interactions with the government when data about user activity is sought. (Prior reports have been from cloud service providers like Google and Facebook -- this time we are hearing from a broadband service provider). The report is broken up into two parts -- one involving data about America, and the other involving international data. No doubt the information will add fuel to the current debate. Some highlights:
- In 2013, Verizon received approximately 320,000 requests for customer information from federal, state or local law enforcement in the United States. The second highest requester -- Germany, oddly enough -- made nearly 3000 requests.
- As a matter of policy (even though it is arguable as a matter of law) Verizon will only provide stored content in response to a warrant and geo-location data in response to a warrant or court order (but not a subpoena). [Current law appears to permit the collection of such information by subpoena -- a fact that many want to change.]
- Verizon received between 1000 and 2000 National Security Letter requests last year [they may only report a range, not an exact figure.]
- The report does not contain any information about FISA orders, which Verizon is prohibited from disclosing.
Paul Rosenzweig is the founder of Red Branch Consulting PLLC, a homeland security consulting company and a Senior Advisor to The Chertoff Group. Mr. Rosenzweig formerly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Homeland Security. He is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington University, a Senior Fellow in the Tech, Law & Security program at American University, and a Board Member of the Journal of National Security Law and Policy.
