Under the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999, what type of data is described as 'empty' communications and may be collected?

Under the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999, what type of data is described as 'empty' communications and may be collected?

• A. Text messages and emails
• B. Nonverbal and nontext communications such as GPS information
• C. Voice calls
• D. Video surveillance

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is that some data collected in investigations is metadata—information about the communication rather than the content itself. “Empty” communications refer to nonverbal, nontext data that describes aspects of a communication, not what was said or written. GPS information is a prime example because it reveals where a device was and when, without exposing the actual message content. This type of data can be obtained to locate devices or track movements, often with fewer privacy hurdles than accessing the message content itself. Text messages and emails, by contrast, expose the actual words and content of the communication. Voice calls reveal spoken content. Video surveillance captures visual content. Each of these conveys substantive information about what happened, and they generally require different or stronger legal authorization to access.

The concept being tested is that some data collected in investigations is metadata—information about the communication rather than the content itself. “Empty” communications refer to nonverbal, nontext data that describes aspects of a communication, not what was said or written. GPS information is a prime example because it reveals where a device was and when, without exposing the actual message content. This type of data can be obtained to locate devices or track movements, often with fewer privacy hurdles than accessing the message content itself.

Text messages and emails, by contrast, expose the actual words and content of the communication. Voice calls reveal spoken content. Video surveillance captures visual content. Each of these conveys substantive information about what happened, and they generally require different or stronger legal authorization to access.