Can the FBI read your text messages?

A recently discovered FBI training document shows that US law enforcement can gain limited access to the content of encrypted messages from secure messaging services like iMessage, Line, and WhatsApp, but not to messages sent via Signal, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WeChat, or Wickr.
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Can the government see my text messages?

Investigators need only a subpoena, not a warrant, to get text messages more than 180 days old from a cell provider — the same standard as emails. Many carriers charge authorities a fee to provide texts and other information.
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Does the FBI have access to my phone?

But the agencies reserve the right to try faces, fingers, irises or other body parts to gain access. The FBI has some new language in search warrants that allow agents to force people to unlock their smartphones, tablets and PCs with their face, finger, iris or whatever other part of their body opens up their tech.
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Does the FBI text you on WhatsApp?

The FBI notes: No message content. Provides account (i.e. phone number)) registration data and IP address at time of creation.
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Can the FBI see my search history?

Under the new House amendment, called the Lofgren-Davidson amendment, the FBI would first have to obtain a warrant before accessing a citizen's Web browsing and search information.
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Former FBI Agent Explains How to Read Body Language | Tradecraft | WIRED



Can the FBI see your deleted history?

So, can police recover deleted pictures, texts, and files from a phone? The answer is yes—by using special tools, they can find data that hasn't been overwritten yet. However, by using encryption methods, you can ensure your data is kept private, even after deletion.
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Do the FBI call you?

Similarly, U.S. government agencies will not call you and ask for money, or threaten to have the FBI arrest you. They will never ask for payment with iTunes cards or other gift cards. Please be careful!
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Can the police tap WhatsApp?

Yesterday the New York Times reported that the Justice Department also has problems with the encryption built into Facebook's WhatsApp messaging service. It is designed such that the company cannot decrypt messages and provide them to law enforcement. Apple's messaging service, iMessage, uses a similar design.
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Is FBI agent watching me?

That said, the FBI is most likely not spying on you through your webcam. "As a society, we should be concerned about the increasing amount of surveillance and loss of privacy that we're experiencing," she notes.
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Can the Feds tap your iPhone?

Federal agents cannot legally tap your phone whenever they want to. They have to follow strict guidelines and go through a specific process to obtain approval.
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Does the FBI watch me through my camera?

Meinrath explained that the rumor regarding FBI surveillance was truer than some may believe. “The easy answer is yes, [the FBI] has the capability of [monitoring through laptop cameras],” Meinrath said.
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Can the Feds see iMessage?

A previously unreported FBI document obtained by Rolling Stone reveals that “private” messaging apps WhatsApp and iMessage are deeply vulnerable to law-enforcement searches.
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Can the feds read iMessage?

The FBI can get “limited” access to iMessages and, with a search warrant, can “render backups of a target device” and, “if the target uses iCloud backup … can also acquire iMessages from iCloud” if the user has enabled it.
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How far back can police get text messages?

4) Text messages

Text messages are treated like emails, according to the ECPA. That means, under this crucial and controversial law, officers must obtain a warrant from a judge for content stored by a service provider (like Verizon or AT&T) that is less than 180 days old, but not for content that's 180 days or older.
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Why would the FBI come to your house?

Why would the FBI come to your house? There are a number of possible reasons. They range from the possibility that they are looking for someone who does not live there anymore, to looking for information about another person, to looking to get interview a target or even make an arrest.
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What crimes can be reported to FBI?

The FBI investigates:
  • Cyber crime.
  • Public corruption.
  • Hate crimes.
  • Human trafficking.
  • White-collar crime.
  • Violent crime.
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Does the FBI call or text you?

Because government agencies won't call, email, or text you and ask for money or personal information.
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How do you know if an FBI agent is real?

There are a couple things you should look for.
  1. Look at the photo and make sure it matches the agent standing in front of you.
  2. Be sure the badge says Federal Bureau of Investigation at the top. Fake badges will often abbreviate to FBI.
  3. Make sure the badge is completely gold and has Department of Justice on the bottom.
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How long can the FBI investigate a person?

For most federal crimes, the statute of limitations is five years. Bank fraud has a statute of limitations of ten years. Immigration violations and arson are also subject to a ten year limit.
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Is the government watching me through my phone?

In the United States, the government pays phone companies directly to record and collect cellular communications from specified individuals. U.S. law enforcement agencies can also legally track the movements of people from their mobile phone signals upon obtaining a court order to do so.
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Can police remotely access my phone?

If you are syncing your images, documents and contacts using any cloud services, the police can use 'cloud extraction' tools remotely to access this information without your authorisation or knowledge, or they can make a legal request to the cloud service provider.
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What happens when the FBI arrests you?

A person arrested by the FBI is taken into custody, photographed, and fingerprinted. In addition, an attempt often is made to obtain a voluntary statement from the arrestee. The arrestee remains in FBI custody until the initial court appearance, which must take place without unnecessary delay.
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