# What are some threats to individuals if phone records are available to the law?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-threats-to-individuals-if-phone-records-are-available-to-the-law/544381>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 24, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-threats-to-individuals-if-phone-records-are-available-to-the-law/544381 "2010-06-24T17:30:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-threats-to-individuals-if-phone-records-are-available-to-the-law/544381/21 "2010-06-30T01:22:05Z")

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> [@digs](#):
>
> " you know what? We are not coming back without a rock saw."

Excellent! 😃

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**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-threats-to-individuals-if-phone-records-are-available-to-the-law/544381/22 "2010-06-30T18:52:40Z")

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Police (or more accurately, retired police) here. There is always the potential for abuse of power. That’s why there are legal safeguards to prevent unrestricted access to your private information. Most cops have no problem with that. In my state (NJ) if we want to look at your records we need a search warrant. The Feds, on the other hand, need only an administrative subpoena. That’s basically a form that the agent fills out and isn’t reviewed by anyone. Who is talking to who can be very important information. The thing is, those records only tell you that this phone was “talking” to that phone. Not who was on the line or what what was said. Coupled with other information, that may be enough to get a wiretap order which requires another warrant. In all cases that has to be reviewed by a judge. Its not as easy as TV makes it look. The reality of it is that there are so many legit criminals out there there isn’t enough time to spend chasing red herrings. But that doesn’t mean some dirty cop won’t abuse your rights. FTG has it right. Good cops won’t do it and bad cops aren’t deterred by something as minor as the law.

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**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-threats-to-individuals-if-phone-records-are-available-to-the-law/544381/23 "2010-06-30T21:07:20Z")

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Since you have nothing to hide, I presume you will also have no objection to the police rummaging around your home while you’re at work?

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