The Register: Cops told: Er, no, you need a wiretap order if you want real-time Facebook snooping

Civil liberties and digital rights groups including the ACLU, Center for Democracy & Technology, Electronic Privacy Information Center, and Electronic Frontier Foundation filed friend-of-the-court briefs in support of Facebook – not something that happens every day. So did Microsoft and Google, which are also no strangers to law enforcement subpoenaing user information.

The two tech giants argued that no other law enforcement agencies outside of New Jersey have sought ongoing future surveillance of electronic communications based on a warrant. Other states making similar requests must be granted wiretap orders.

Ultimately, the New Jersey Supreme Court agreed. Letting wiretapping get a semi-free pass is not a Jersey Thing it seems.

Read the full article here.