N'kay, here's what I'm thinking.

[jayctravis]

I have been enjoying my new Tivo. It hooks to the internet wirelessly and based on the time I spend fiddling through program guides, tries and succeeds in recording shows I've told it I like, as well as others that I might not have thought to watch based on its database of programming information.

Now if the Tivo can do that sort of thing, I know that a database of raw phone numbers would be a tremendous asset. The phone companies keep those private records to service their customers. But with the type of search engine software coupled with a database...it'd be simple to come up with large clusters of numbers and just randomly use a phonebook to see who it was.

The government should have no right to demand those sorts of records without a court order. They are not running a telecommunications business. They've proven that when they have secret information (Plame) that it's not safe in their hands.

Lots of threads about cancelling this service or that. The communications industry is not to blame for this. They're providing phone and internet services, not imagining that a government official who requested information wouldn't have the right to it. Cause you know....it all changed after 9/11. Of course we have to go after terrorists. But if we can't even know who was at Cheney's energy task force meeting, surely there are personal and corporate rights even the government should not be able to intrude upon.

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. It's actually telecommunication businesses running our nation

and basically the world.

The Internet must scare the hell outta BushCo...

[kentuck]

2. A number by itself is useless unless....

they have more information with it. They would have to have a name or a location for it to be wroth anything. So, they are lying.

[skids]

3. Think again...

...this administration has shown an immense capacity to jump the gun using faulty premisis. With the loose standards they seem to have, you could find yourself arrested because Al Quaeda #3 (the #3045 #3) accidentally called your number one night and hung up when they got your voice mail.

[bullimiami]

4. they are to blame. they know there needs to be a warrant or equivalent

for the government to get info from them. there are laws against it.

the lawsuits are going to be coming against all of them.