Anonymous Subpoena to My ISP
My question involves court procedures for the state of: California
I received a disturbing letter from the CEO of my ISP indicating they received a subpoena from "law enforcement" requesting the name associated to a specific IP address. My mind has not been at rest since I received this letter. I've been trying to think of anything at all that I could have done to warrant a subpoena, but I keep coming up with nothing substantial. I considered that maybe it was violating the TOS playing on Evony.com by using multiple accounts, but it doesn't make sense that they would subpoena my name for the IP address when they already have my name (via the many paypal payments I've made to them).
I have contacted my ISP to try and learn more about the subpoena, but they will not tell me who ordered the subpoena, nor provide a copy of the subpoena. They only informed me that "law enforcement" requested the name associated to my IP address, and that there was no reason given for the subpoena. They complied immediately, and wrote a letter to me to let me know that they complied.
What are the possible reasons for such a subpoena? Considering that I only know enough to stress me out, and not enough to actually do anything, I'm not sure what the point was in informing me.
Re: Anonymous Subpoena to My Isp
All any of us could do is guess. It may be nothing, or it may be that someone has used your account or IP for something nefarious. if you have wi-fi, or have friends or family sharing your computer, perhaps someone was involved in something they shouldn't have been. Perhaps it was a Craigslist sale gone bad? Perhaps it was an allegation of threatening emails? Perhaps an "oops" in the IP address?
No one hear can assuage your fears or affirm them as we have no way of finding out.
YOU know if you have done anything that might be illegal, we don't. If you have done nothing, then you probably have little cause for alarm.
Re: Anonymous Subpoena to My Isp
The IP address is tied to a specific computer that only I have access to (password protected). I spend a lot of time on this computer, but I can't think of anything I've done that would be considered illegal. There have been occasional website visits late at night to watch dirty videos and read dirty stories, and while the stories may involve illegal activities, they are other people's stories, not mine. These late night ventures would warrant embarrassment at most, certainly not a subpoena.
When my ISP says "law enforcement", does that necessarily mean that a specific law enforcement officer is requesting it? Or is it that every subpoena must be backed by "law enforcement", but could be initiated by a private party over a civil suit or private investigation? Is there any way I can get my ISP to cough up a copy of the subpoena? Or would that even help?
As you stated, if I've done nothing, then I should have little cause for alarm. Perhaps I should just let it go and wait and see if anything happens. I've never had my information requested by subpoena (and I've been on the internet since it's conception). My initial cause for alarm is based mainly on my ignorance of subpoenas, and fear that only something really bad would trigger a subpoena.
Re: Anonymous Subpoena to My Isp
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frayed
The IP address is tied to a specific computer that only I have access to (password protected).
Hardline? Or, wifi?
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When my ISP says "law enforcement", does that necessarily mean that a specific law enforcement officer is requesting it?
You'd have to ask your ISP what they mean by that. I suspect it means that they received the subpoena from a law enforcement agency.
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Or is it that every subpoena must be backed by "law enforcement", but could be initiated by a private party over a civil suit or private investigation? Is there any way I can get my ISP to cough up a copy of the subpoena? Or would that even help?
Law enforcement is not going to be investigating civil matters. To utilize a subpoena, a criminal investigation must exist. However! That does not mean your IP is a suspect in this, it might be meant to identify other victims or potential witnesses of someone else's activity that crossed your path.
Unless you want to go to court and see if a court will compel the ISP to provide a copy of the subpoena, about all you can do is ask.
Re: Anonymous Subpoena to My Isp
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cdwjava
Hardline? Or, wifi?
hardline
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cdwjava
You'd have to ask your ISP what they mean by that. I suspect it means that they received the subpoena from a law enforcement agency.
Law enforcement is not going to be investigating civil matters. To utilize a subpoena, a criminal investigation must exist. However! That does not mean your IP is a suspect in this, it might be meant to identify other victims or potential witnesses of someone else's activity that crossed your path.
Unless you want to go to court and see if a court will compel the ISP to provide a copy of the subpoena, about all you can do is ask.
kind of wish they never told me in the first place.
how long after the date of the subpoena should I expect to hear anything if something comes of this?
really what i'm looking for is at what time in the future can I really just forget about this (versus what I'm doing now - just pretending to forget about it).
Re: Anonymous Subpoena to My Isp
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frayed
how long after the date of the subpoena should I expect to hear anything if something comes of this?
really what i'm looking for is at what time in the future can I really just forget about this (versus what I'm doing now - just pretending to forget about it).
You may never hear anything.
If this is a felony, and it is a state case (as opposed to federal), then they would have three years to bring it to court in most instances.