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Recently unsealed records reveal a much more extensive secret relationship than previously known between the FBI and Best Buy's Geek Squad, including evidence the agency trained company technicians on law-enforcement operational tactics, shared lists of targeted citizens and, to covertly increase surveillance of the public, encouraged searches of computers even when unrelated to a customer's request for repairs.
To sidestep the U.S. Constitution's prohibition against warrantless invasions of private property, federal prosecutors and FBI officials have argued that Geek Squad employees accidentally find and report, for example, potential child pornography on customers' computers without any prodding by the government. Assistant United States Attorney M. Anthony Brown last year labeled allegations of a hidden partnership as "wild speculation." But more than a dozen summaries of FBI memoranda filed inside Orange County's Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse this month in USA v. Mark Rettenmaier contradict the official line.
One agency communication about Geek Squad supervisor Justin Meade noted, "Agent assignments have been reviewed and are appropriate for operation of this source," that the paid informant "continues to provide valuable information on [child pornography] matters" and has "value due to his unique or potential access to FBI priority targets or intelligence responsive to FBI national and/or local collection."
Other records show how Meade's job gave him "excellent and frequent" access for "several years" to computers belonging to unwitting Best Buy customers, though agents considered him "underutilized" and wanted him "tasked" to search devices "on a more consistent basis."
Step 1: Put child porn on target's computer
Step 2: Report target to FBI
Step 3: Collect $500 bounty
Profit!!!
Previously on SoylentNews: Cooperation Alleged Between Best Buy and the FBI
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 12 2017, @07:10AM (1 child)
Best Buys did not have technicians or the Geek Squad in the DOS era.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Sunday March 12 2017, @08:22AM
Windows was already out... I had brought them an older machine.
I hang onto older tech when I have yet to trust the newer tech.
I was afraid of Windows stuff too, as I could not reverse it - the old DOS stuff was usually a few hundred KB of code at the most. With a listing of decompiled output maybe the size of a book. I felt comfortable decompiling a DOS EXE to see what it did. Some of it was very time consuming to reverse, but if I had years of my work invested in drawings, I'd be damned to have the software holding my work hostage to compel me to comply with something. Especially stuff that enforces something years later, after I have substantial time invested in it.
Trying to find a bug in a Windows executable was beyond my capability. I was losing it on Protected-Mode 286 stuff. You know, the Phar-Lap and similar stuff.
Even today, I fail to embrace the new stuff in cars. When I read of all the "customer lock-in" crap with cars, I got queasy and really felt stupid putting down good money for one - so I ended up with an older Ford Diesel van. I was able to get ALL of the electrical documentation on it, and feel comfortable with it. I fully expect this van to outlive me.
My bringing in that computer to BestBuy is like my now bringing my van in for service.
If a mechanic looks at it, and tells me he can't replace the water pump cause "he can't read the codes", I do not think that guy should be trusted with a wrench.
I have to consider that one a "business-class mechanic", as he's good at looking good, shaking hands, and presenting paperwork full of "we may or may not fix your thing, but you understand you pay us anyway" and have the presentation skills to get the customer to sign it. His technical skill may be limited to filling the tank, checking the oil, and cleaning the windshield. I have already had my neighbors tell me tales of woe over car repair, as well as a lot of my relatives are pissed off farmers reeking over what John Deere and other manufactures are throwing their way simply because Congress has given them the copyright/patent tools for enforcing monopolistic behaviour. I see the throwaway game they are playing to force me to constantly buy this years new shiny, and I am resisting any which a way I can.
New Car! New House! What did you do? coos one TV ad making its rounds.... answer? DEBT! I do not want to go there.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]