Can phone companies print off your text messages you send and give them to the police if they request it?

Question

Can phone companies print off records of text messages if the police request them? How can I be protected?

Answer 1

Boy, what a tangled web we weave.

Here's the deal:

Phone calls require a warrant (or subpoena) before they tap (except under the Patriot act or National Security warrants, which can wait until after the act).

HOWEVER, the SUpreme Court has ruled that you do NOT have a right to privacy in your cell phone. And, the wire privacy act does not apply to cell phones because ... they are wirelesss and not covered.

So, if asked, the phone companies may legally turn the info over to the police (or anyone else). Some companies make it a policy to cooperate with any request, others require a warrant. So, if you do not like your company's polices ... switch companies.

Answer 2

They can only provide the information if it is Subpeonaed. The only way to be protected is to not send any text messages in the future as they can legally be used against you in a Court of Law. Anything you ever text, e-mail or surf the internet for can be recorded (even if you delete from your own computer as all internet carriers have backup tapes that they usually keep for years) and kept and used for years against you in Court.

A good book to read where the woman was soley convicted from her IM messages to her lover that killed her husband where the IMs proved she manipulated her former lover is "Fatal Error" by Paul Janczewski and Mark Morris.

Answer 3

There is actually the way for you to print out andrid text messages, How to Print Text Messages software is a good choices.This tool can help android phone users print out android sms easily.

Answer 4

They need a court order and probable cause to do that.

If the phone company hand out that without a court order you can sue them plus any evidence will not be admissible in court.

Answer 5

Yes they can, but generally the law in the US requires that they have an order from a judge in order to hand it over.

However if they (phone company) see something and choose to hand it over theirself, then the police have done nothing wrong and it can be used against you.

Answer 6

if that so and how come the 9/11 happen and why does US government get all calls and text form top terrorist person and other criminals even FBI cannot get the cellphone calls and text messages even they know there names and cellphone numbers of those terrorist that are in US right now lol....there are like billions of it in every phone company and like they getting always a request to get text message from there cheating husband and etc...gee!if that really possible there would be world peace i think

Answer 7

Yes, with a warrant. They are usually held in a data base for reference. Never put anything in writing you don't want to come back and haunt you.

Answer 8

Yes. Lawyers can also subpoena them. There isn't much you can do. If you read the fine lines in your cell phone contract, it will say it is a possibility.

Answer 9

I'd say yes ! Anything you put out there is no longer private. If you have nothing to hide; why worry?

Answer 10

Wow! Scary!!! That's something to consider....