Fox News recently exposed the use of a hidden face and license place scanner being used by a Post Office in Denver, CO. One hour after Fox discovered the spy camera it was ripped from the ground.
The cameras, managed by the agencies’ police force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, was discovered by a customer hidden inside a utilities box last November. The camera evidently was in use throughout the Christmas season.
Managers inside the post office tell FOX31 Denver they were unaware customers were being photographed outside and that the surveillance was not part of the building’s security monitoring.
A spokesperson for Postal Inspection Service declined to address the specific reason for the domestic surveillance, but admitted the agency had a “number of cameras at their disposal.”
Pamela Durkee, a Federal Law Enforcement Agent and U.S. Postal Inspector, sent an email to FOX31 Denver explaining, “(We) do not engage in routine or random surveillance. Cameras are deployed for law enforcement or security purposes, which may include the security of our facilities, the safety of our customers and employees, or for criminal investigations. Employees of the Postal Inspection Service are sworn to uphold the United States Constitution, including protecting the privacy of the American public.”
FOX31 Denver reviewed criminal search warrants on file in city, county, and federal court but none appeared to be related to the Golden post office camera set-up. The Postal Inspection Service would not confirm or deny that the camera was collecting data for a specific case or cases.
Lee Tien, an attorney for the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation, says more and more federal agencies are getting away with conducting surveillance and collecting personal data of citizens without a warrant signed by a judge.
“Part of being a responsible, constitutional government is explaining why it is doing surveillance on its citizens,” Lee told Halsne. “The government should not be collecting this kind of sensitive information. And it is sensitive! It`s about your relationships, your associations with other people, which can be friendship or political or religious. The idea that we give up that privacy simply because we use the U.S. mail is, I think, a silly idea.”
Lee says EFF has been fighting for greater government transparency when it comes to the way agencies like the FBI and the National Security Agency have been vacuuming up massive amounts of cell phone, email and license plates data and storing them in a central computer system.
Lee says, “The idea that they would be able to keep that information forever and search through it whenever they want to – that seems very, very wrong to us because it means you’ll be able to accumulate over time a lot of innocent peoples’ information and then use it in the kinds of ways that would not be overseen by any kind of court or independent third party.”
FOX31 Denver filed multiple Freedom of Information Act requests with the Postal Service, Postal Inspection Service, and Office of the Inspector General in an attempt to identify the cost and scope of the Postal Inspection Service surveillance program.
None of the agencies could provide a written data retention policy, which would detail how long USPIS could keep the images agents have been collecting from the Golden post office camera and other cameras around the Denver area. Similarly, there does not appear to be a policy regarding in what circumstances other federal agencies may have access to the personal information gathered from the cameras.
Our discovery of this camera program comes just months after the U.S. Postal Service was forced to reveal (during a Congressional hearing) that it was videotaping and storing the address and return information from billions of pieces of mail at its distribution centers.
A federal audit in 2014 found that the Post Office had “insufficient” controls in place when allowing law enforcement agencies access to the data collected from that “mail cover” program.
We did locate a California company which claims it sold the U.S. Postal Service “consumer surveillance systems,” which come installed with wireless data retrieval and infrared night capabilities.
Hop-On Incorporated did not return our repeated calls to elaborate on its self-proclaimed deal. Our FOIA requests for federal contracts and financial information about Hop-On and other contractors who sell USPS and USPIS camera equipment were returned to us void of all information.
Don’t need a warrant in a public place. Further, did they bother to look at where the camera is pointed? Did they even bother to think that “maybe” it’s part of a criminal investigation? That would explain why a FOIA isn’t going to get you anything. It’s probably pointing a a bunch of mail drop boxes that are getting broken into. Guess we will probably never know since most “news investigators” never bother to think about it.
The Post Office?
Joshua since you have nothing to hide. I am sure feel the government should be able to stop you anytime to search your person and take photos of you and your family.
Maybe no terrorists other than the Boston bombers have been caught on camera because every time our government puts one up to try and catch them, all the “kool aid” drinkers freak out about privacy in a public place. The government is not above reproach or wrongdoing, but without the people, there will be no government. Stop with the conspiracies and propaganda. If you think there’s an issue and want to change it, instead of trying to fight the system, gather up all your like minded cons$#%&!@*uents and run for offices. I know there are enough conspiracy theororists out there to fill every seat. There will always be some form of government, so until you do something that will actually make a difference other than $#%&!@*ing and complaining, all you’re doing is wasting oxygen.
It’s hilarious how all the “kool aid” drinkers freak out about privacy in a public place. The government is not above reproach or wrongdoing, but without the people, there will be no government. Stop with the conspiracies and propaganda. If you think there’s an issue and want to change it, instead of trying to fight the system, gather up all your like minded cons$#%&!@*uents and run for offices. I know there are enough conspiracy theororists out there to fill every seat. There will always be some form of government, so until you do something that will actually make a difference other than $#%&!@*ing and complaining, all you’re doing is wasting oxygen.
Postal buildings often have cameras both inside and out, as many businesses do. The problem with putting cameras in plain sight, is that thieves rip them off… (it happens a lot) You might find them hidden around collection boxes as well, to help spot fishing thieves. (people trying to get mail out of collection boxes)
When I lived in CO in 2006, I was pulled over by a State cop. He asked if I knew why I got pulled over, no idea, not speeding because it was snowing. He said it was because the license plate scanner in his car couldn’t pick up the plate on my Jeep because of the mag chloride they used on the roads. He asked me if I wanted him to wipe it off. I told him sure, knock yourself out and he let me go.
Federal camera to protect federal property what’s the issue? Want to send something illegal go to FedEx…
The proper response is: officer can you read my tag if so you can type it in or call it in like the old days…
bastards!