5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • FAQs
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • Wireless Design
  • Learn
    • 5G Videos
    • Ebooks
    • EE Training Days
    • FAQs
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars/Digital Events
  • Handbooks
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Resources
    • Design Guide Library
    • EE World Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • Engineering Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Report: AT&T Grants DEA Access to 26 Years Worth of Phone Records

By Ben Munson | September 3, 2013

Since 2007, AT&T and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have worked closely together to provide the Agency with access to AT&T’s phone records going back as far as 1987.

The New York Times says it received “law enforcement sensitive” Powerpoint slides that outline the scope of the partnership, dubbed the Hemisphere Project. The government foots the bill for AT&T employees to work alongside DEA teams and pull up phone records from a massive database when they are requested. The database is stored by AT&T and the DEA is allowed to search it by acquiring “administrative subpoenas.”

As the report points out, this program exceeds the breadth of the NSA’s U.S. phone record collecting. Under the Patriot Act, the NSA keeps records going back five years. Under the Hemisphere Project, the records go back 26 years and include information on all callers on AT&T’s network, not just AT&T customers. Referencing the slides, the report indicates that nearly four billion call records daily are added to the database and that the records include location data for the calls.

News of AT&T’s and the DEA’s huge phone data collection efforts comes as the U.S. government is still under fire for the NSA’s PRISM program that collected call data from the U.S.’s major carriers as well as web service giants like Google and Apple.


Filed Under: Carriers

 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Related Articles Read More >

eSIM
eSIM eases changing carriers for phones and IoT
QoE and QoS comparison
Benchmarking in 5G: More important than ever
iPhone 12
I bought a 5G phone, now what?
6G
Key takeaways from 6G Symposium

Featured Contributions

  • Overcome Open RAN test and certification challenges
  • Wireless engineers need AI to build networks
  • Why AI chips need PCIe 7.0 IP interconnects
  • circuit board timing How timing and synchronization improve 5G spectrum efficiency
  • Wi-Fi 7 and 5G for FWA need testing
More Featured Contributions

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE LEARNING CENTER

EE Learning Center
“5g
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

Engineering Training Days

engineering
“bills
5G Technology World
  • Enews Signup
  • EE World Online
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analogic Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer’s Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search 5G Technology World