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Yahoo's price list for spying on its users leaks
There's even an incentive to buy the details of more than one user -- the first one only costs $20, but $10 for any extras. Now that's what I call value-added federal douchebaggery, Yahoo! (That was really an exclamation at the end of the sentence, if it's not clear from the context.)
Sadly, this is the kind of thing that goes on all over the place but is never reported because it's so darn secret. As an online service provider, or ISP, you just hope beyond all else, that such 'law enforcement compliance guides' never reach the eyes of the users. Unfortunately for Yahoo, they have: someone leaked the 'spy' booklet and submitted it to Cryptome, a site which collects sensitive and whistle-blower-esque documents. Not only does it contain a price list, it also details their data retention policies. I shan't link it here, but it's very easy to find if you visit the Cryptome website.
Poor Yahoo though, really. You can guarantee that other big companies charge law enforcement agencies for the interrogation of their records. And hey, at least with Yahoo you can now opt out of targeted ads...thank God for that.
[via Wired]
Comments
12
Subscribe to commentskuagaDec 8th 2009 1:32PM
I wonder if Google's prices differ too much...
James AytonDec 8th 2009 11:53AM
I'd be willing to bet that the feds can get the information for free. This price list is probably for local and state law enforcement.
I wonder if private investigators can get in on this deal, too?
Crazy SerbDec 8th 2009 12:36PM
Hell, can I get in on this deal too?
At prices like that... phew.
Sebastian AnthonyDec 8th 2009 12:40PM
Anything for BlondeBabe16's details, eh?
Crazy SerbDec 8th 2009 1:32PM
Hey, we've all got our needs and wants ;)
By the way, Sebastian, why is your avatar not showing up (I keep getting a broken image and you're the only person on this blog that's poking me in the eye every time I read the comments with that empty/broken image in place of what should be your (gr)avatar)...?
Sebastian AnthonyDec 8th 2009 1:33PM
I wish I knew, dude... I keep re-uploading it, and sometimes it appears for a few minutes, and then goes again.
I'll ask the admins!
Sebastian AnthonyDec 8th 2009 2:38PM
Glad ya liked it. We'll try to keep on top of things... it's kinda necessary that people are kept in the know, as the Internet keeps on growing!
MarkDec 8th 2009 3:42PM
That has nothing to do with spying. If a law enforcement agency presents them with a court order for information this tells them what they are able to provide, nothing more. They aren't selling information (if the court orders them to they h ave no choice but to turn it over) and they aren't spying on you. Google and every other company does the same thing. I wish sites would quit spreading this BS FUD. Shame on you for repeating it downloadsquad.
The only thing Yahoo did was overreact and make a big deal out of nothing by stupidly trying to get the leak taken down.
techpopsDec 8th 2009 5:48PM
I'm not so sure you're right there Mark, this could be considered spying. You're only assuming they need a court order. I have a nasty experience of something very similar to this where a private company asked my ISP for my details based on giving them nothing more than my IP address and they gave it out happily. They even told me they gave it out and and I found out later how much they charged (£50) for it as the company going after me tried to bill me for it.
In fact they gave it out to hundreds if not thousands of people judging from the forum chatter about it at the time across the web. I put up some google alerts on all the keywords associated with the company and what they were doing and was amazed how many people were talking about it, and still are years later. The company in question is still at it.
So if a major ISP will just give out info for profit, why not Yahoo?
jimDec 9th 2009 1:35AM
Mark I wish you would stop spreading your BS FUD.
How is this not considered spying? Also the federal government does not need courts and in some cases neither does local/state law enforcement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act
They are selling the information. How can you say they are not, they have a price list! Every telecommunications company has a price list for law enforcement. A court order does not mean that Yahoo (or any other companies) has to pay an employee to retrieve user information and not get any compensation for it. These companies get tens of thousands of requests for data from law enforcement every year (according to Cox and Comcast) and they are not doing it for free. WE pay for it.
LadronDec 9th 2009 1:01PM
Jesus H. Christ!!! Yahoo is selling us all out for a price.
CrystalDec 11th 2009 2:59PM
do you guys bother to read anything before you comment? See section V. (5) on page 11 of the actual document http://cryptome.org/isp-spy/yahoo-spy.pdf This information is only available via court order, subpoena, and search warrant. And they are not "selling" the information, they are basically just asking for an administration fee becuase someone has to go and collect the data. The information that can be given even varies by what order law enforcement has. And even Yahoo states many times in the document, that most requests for information that come from law enforcement can be found online for free. Also, this is a one time data download, if Law enforcement wishes to continue monitoring someone they need a Surveillance order.