The New York Times article titled ‘Report Reveals Wider Tracking of Mail in U.S.’ published on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 is extremely disappointing. In our view the article is inaccurate and unfairly presents a one sided version of the facts. First and foremost, the United States Postal Service respects the privacy of its customers and the sanctity the mail. Contrary to what is suggested in the article, the Postal Service does not monitor the mail behavior of its customers and it does not maintain any system or program of so-called “surveillance.” Unfortunately, and perhaps to create a news story where there is none, the New York Times article conflates three independent mail programs in order to create the wholly false impression that there is some vast mail monitoring system in operation. While such an assertion may make for a more interesting news article – it is not based on the facts.
Mail covers are used for criminal investigations. The increased use of mail covers in 2013 and 2014 is connected to single packages investigated involving illegal drug shipments. Eighty percent of all mail covers in 2014 were related to these important investigations. All other mail covers have actually decreased by more than thirty percent since 2012.
It is unfortunate that the New York Times presented such a distorted view of the facts. Its readership would have benefited from a more evenhanded approach.
The Postal Service processed and delivered 158 billion pieces of mail last year, of which only a tiny percentage was subjected to the mail cover process.
The people who need to be concerned about mail covers are those who use the US Mail to ship illegal drugs or who are otherwise breaking the law.
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT – NEW YORK TIMES 10/28/14 ARTICLE RESPONSE
It’s interesting to read a statement from postal management regarding the “truth” of the NY Times report on customer spying. A classic case of the “cry wolf” syndrome, even if the USPS is telling the truth about not conducting widespread surveillance on customers they have such a dismal record of lying to their employees, the public and Congress that only a real birdbrain would believe them on anything.
You can’t lie all the time to cities where you want to kill jobs and close plants or to members of Congress and expect to retain any sort of credibility. It’s kind of sad that nobody in management seems to be aware of it. Are the upper levels so sealed off, so far removed from reality and egotistical that they think their word is the law and everybody believes them and respects them as enlightened leaders? A severe re-assessment of your own image is in order. This time, management, ask somebody besides an ass kissing underling for an opinion, and don’t insult our intelligence with those stupid VOE’s. They do not ask real questions, only vague suppositions that most people don’t even bother with because they’re so lop sided.
So now we are to believe you’re not involved in espionage on the customers through the orders of the NSA. That may be so, but I don’t believe you. I also believe you employ spy ware in an attempt to identify posters on web sites like this and union web sites and social media. It is only a matter of time before somebody exercising their 1st Amendment will get disciplined or fired because some management jerk thinks they’re being disrespected and that some privacy line they invent has been crossed.
Protect yourself and change your screen name and password often.
Monitor mail??? Or carriers?? We know carriers do nothing and are out ….. us., postal management is the only true workers.. In fact our job is so hard it takes 2 of us to watch every lazy carrier!!
Ironic; postal mgmt. getting upset by someone (supposedly) distorting facts, etc.
Postal mgmt, at all levels, are chronic liars, cheats, and thieves.
Their mantra is “Deceive, deny, and delfect”, and it is used on a daily basis.