We get lots of emails and comments from people who are concerned that federal law enforcement officials are listening in on their free government cell phone conversations. We’ve even seen YouTube videos where similar fears are expressed.
Sadly, these privacy concerns seem to keep many eligible Americans from taking advantage of Lifeline’s generous offer of a free cell phone and 250 free minutes every month.
With that in mind, this recent article may be of interest:
Eff.org reports, “The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that the government must turn over information from criminal prosecutions in which federal law enforcement agencies obtained cell-site location information without a warrant. The suit, filed as part of EFF’s FLAG Project and in conjunction with the ACLU, sought the release of the case numbers and case names in which the government had tracked the location of a person’s cell phone without obtaining a warrant.”
Civil libertarians are celebrating this as a huge victory in their on-going effort to keep the government from tracking Americans’ whereabouts without a valid warrant.A little background: In 2007 the ACLU and EFF submitted a Freedom of Information Act request demanding that the Department of Justice reveal the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about its policies and procedures for getting cell-site information in criminal investigations. The courts forced government to disclose all cell-site information used in 255 different criminal prosecutions. Let’s repeat that in case you didn’t get it the first time: The government revealed that it had use cell phone information gathered without warrants in 255 criminal prosecutions. But, of course, the government complied as only the government can do by refusing to disclose case names and numbers.
In the end, the D.C. Circuit forced the government to disclose all records in all cases in which they got convictions. It said, “disclosure sought by the plaintiffs would inform this ongoing public policy discussion by shedding light on the scope and effectiveness of cell phone tracking as a law enforcement tool.”
But that’s just the beginning. Congress is also getting into the privacy protection business. If passed, several new bills will require law enforcement officials to get a valid warrants before tracking anyone’s location by tracking their cell phone. Civil liberties groups are urging Congress to pass these laws and to update the country’s privacy laws.
Our conclusion: Unless you’re involved in a major criminal conspiracy of a size and scope that would attract the attention of the federal government, this District Court decision will prohibit the feds from listening in on your phone calls or tracking your whereabouts.
That being said, we think it would be a tragedy if a few bad apples ruined the outstanding Lifeline program for all those who truly need it.
We urge you to do everything you can to protect the Lifeline program. If you know of anyone who’s using a free government cell phone in the commission of a crime, turn them in. Call your local police department. Don’t let them ruin this program for everyone else.
Source: EFF
Sheldon Hilyard says
Can you go on adult sites like adult dating apps and sites. Also what’s the stipulation on going on porn sites?????🤔🤷🏻♂️
Free Government Cell Phones says
There are no stipulations, Sheldon. You can go on any site you want. But you can’t get much lower than this site.
What's it matter you can find my name if you want it, right says
I like that ,EFF says, (RAT everybody out!), So the government isn’t forced to spy on them. WHAT HYPOCRITES,WHAT BULLSHIT 👎😡,
Randy says
I am getting to many spam calls.why does the gov share my number with anyone. That is violating my provicy…
Free Government Cell Phones says
If your number is being shared it’s not the government, it’s your service provider. But everyone with a phone get tons of spam phone calls.
Wayne says
And the same was said about ” Smart TV’s not being hackable. Turns out, that was far from the truth too.
Jesus says
Look, Welfare fraud is rampid. It’s pretty much robbery. People receive thouthands and thouthands to hundreds of thouthands of dollars in Wefare, medical, food stamps and SSI. America is deeply in debt guys. So… you better believe there are entities in the government that investigate people. When you receive a free phone or welfare than prepare to get naked, I know for a fact the government does electronic strip searches on people. Do you have a better idea? What is America supposed to do? It’s robbery and money doesnt grow on trees.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Ooooh. Electronic strip searches. Tell us more.
Ambrocio says
Go ti hell raicist bitch bastard biggoted ashole. whose ashole pun you a human dudnt..ignorant moron envious jealous shou b your ass in your mouth demonic entity you. Peoe go on wefare not to starb because you have way too mych and hord it not to share it..T
America is rulled by E.T. Alien personalities immigrants who are most caring helpful loyal better than trash like you. your papa mama are surely Either immigrant ancestry themselves or brought here as Slaves…whover you are you are blind deaf mute barely alife interrred
Free Government Cell Phones says
Your argument is weakened by its illiterate presentation, Ambrocio. Although we have to admit that you win our colorful comment of the day award for use of the term “…your ass in your mouth demonic entity you.” We’re also fascinated by your concept that “America is ruled (sic) by E.T Alient personalities…” We’re pretty sure that is the first time those words have ever been put together in a sentence on this website. Or maybe on any website.
Yo momma bitch says
“#Free gov. Cell” .. how long did it take you to come up with that phrase ” tinfoil hats ” you sound like a f***ing idiot.. I picture you as some little punk motherf**ker sitting behind a computer in some dark room still holding your d**k from the child porn you just j**ked off to, because you’re so f**king weird you can’t go out in the real world without feeling like everyone looks at you and goes “EWWW look at that freak” !!!so next time you want to write a blog don’t insult the people that take time out to read it and even actually leave a comment unaware of the assh*** they’re actually wasting their time on!!! I don’t even know why anybody would think this of knowledge at all after reading the comments section you sound like a pure f**king moron why don’t you get a real life you f**king loser!!! Oh and just make sure you understand before you get all hyped up and those fingers get to hitting that keyboard just know as soon as I hit send on this comment I’m closing this page out blocking it and I’ll never read it again so whatever you write back to me will never affect me haha dumbass!!! Peace out tinfoil hat pedophile!!!
Free Government Cell Phones says
Your vocabulary is extremely limited, your spelling is atrocious, and you seem to possess a less than rudimentary understanding of punctuation and grammar. On top of that, there’s something exceptionally twisted about someone who, triggered by the mere mention of the words “tinfoil hats,” goes on a rank about pornography, penises, and pedophelia.
We approve this edited version of You Momma’s comment only to show other readers what we put up with on a daily basis. In short, there are some real wackos out there.
Nicholas B. Dichiara says
Someone has tapped my phone number around 5:40-6:00pm while I was on the phone sounded scratchy and saw unknown caller registered at that same time
Free Government Cell Phones says
You’re sounding a little paranoid, Nicholas. Why would someone want to tap your phone?
Ms. Chocolate says
For those with hearing, speech, and/or vision issues; the government has a program that will provide a free landline type phone and translation service, you will have to pay for that landline service. Some companies offers the translations via cell phones, and/or computers (I think just the iPad 2).
Here’s the catch that applies to this topic. The translation is done by a 3rd party who is listening to your conversation. No more criminal or sex talk.
For those who really need help, do a search of “caption phones” .
Free Government Cell Phones says
We beg to differ, Ms. Those government officials who are listening in have the same needs and desires as anyone else. By ending the sex talk, you may be depriving them of their constitutionally-guaranteed sex talk quota.
John J says
I remember when you wrote it off as just another conspiracy theory. Any person stupid enough to trust you or the government deserves anything that happens to them.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Where did you get your tin foil hat, John? It’s lovely.
Joll says
I had a message left on my phone from the NYC Human Resources Department but the problem is I never gave them my number. Also NYC311 had disclosed who I was because employees steal and give out confidential complaint information to perpetrators, criminals and they’re attorney’s.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Not sure what you want us to do, Joll.
Zoey Salvatore says
If you use an “Obama Phone” to get on instagram, can they see your nessages and posts through that?
Free Government Cell Phones says
We’re not sure who “they” are, but you can do everything with a free government cell phone that can be done with any other cell phone.
Patricia A LaRue says
How do you find out if your government phone calls are being listened in on
Free Government Cell Phones says
Who is listening, Patricia?
Lee says
The government can listen on any cell phone. Wheather you pay for it or not. So if you have something to hide don’t own a cell phone!
Free Government Cell Phones says
Tinfoil hats! Get your tinfoil hats here!
Informed says
Full disclosure I don’t mean to sound rude or offensive. However, you saying something like tin foil hats to that commenter makes you look uninformed. Is this site to help people or bully them? It is a fact that the US government saves phone record’s regardless if it’s legal or not. They can listen, read texts, and see data on anyone’s cellphone regardless of its free or paid. The likelihood they listen to you specifically would depend on your lifestyle. Local and state police aren’t the ones collecting these records, it’s done on a federal level from the nsa. The nsa does not get in any trouble not having a warrant. Now, can the government listen to your calls? Yes they can(free phone or not). Will they listen to your calls? Probably not.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Yes, we completely understand what you’re saying, Informed. We just read the other day that the government had illegally collected 530 million phone calls. But that averages out to less than two phone calls per resident in the United States. By the time you take away the phone calls between actual criminals, corrupt officials, and terrorists, the odds of an average person being surveilled by the government is virtually nil. Why would the government want to listen to my wife calling me to tell me the dog crapped on the floor? We hate the violation of civil liberties (call us paranoid, but we always fear what the government may do), but the government has no reason to listen to most people and they would die of boredom if they did.
You said, “Will they listen to your calls? Probably not.” We agree because if they are tracking 530 million phone calls, they better find more interesting ones than ours.
So to repeat, “Tin foil hats. Get your tin foil hats.”