On the other hand, in cases like this, it would seem rude and disproportionate to not even meet these fine fellows from the FBI.
A related question I always had is: How often is law enforcement confronted with people that don't talk to them on general principle? Does that really make you suspicious or is it quite common?
No.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. If you lie about anything, even something trivial, that is a federal offense and you can go to jail for that. And many people have.
It has nothing to do with mis-remembering. You have no idea why they're talking to you. It might be about someone else. It might be about you. But you can bet it's about someone or something. And something you say may incriminate either yourself or someone else.
> On the other hand, in cases like this, it would seem rude and disproportionate to not even meet these fine fellows from the FBI.
This is foolish. They're not there to pop in and say hello. They're doing their job and cooperating with that work is not in your self interest.
> How often is law enforcement confronted with people that don't talk to them on general principle?
Rarely. Most people are scared and don't shut up. However, when they do, it's almost always a lawyer and that assumption will work in your favor.
> Does that really make you suspicious or is it quite common?
It doesn't make you suspicious. See the above. Don't be rude or curt. Be kind, they are human after all. Just explain that you are exercising your rights and wish them a good day.
If they are investigating a crime (past or ongoing) that they believe you may have information about which has harmed, is harming, or may in the future harm your community (and, particularly, you specifically!) cooperating in their work may indeed be in your interest, whether you actually have useful information or can let them rule out that you do without raising new suspicions.
Of course, you don't know that that's the case when they come and talk to you, and if they are targetting you, its not in your self interest to cooperate. But just as it an error to neglect the possibility that you might be the target, it is an error to neglect the possibility that they might be investigating something that, if there work is not done, will harm you.
There are far more reasons than just that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc
I think if you answered politely and explained why you're unwilling to talk to them about their issue it wouldn't be as easy to misconstrue as suspicious. Something like "I'm sure that you have respectable intent but unfortunately the US government has demonstrated in the recent past that they will prosecute people for things they say when they speak to the authorities. If you have a business card, I would be happy to email you links to several articles detailing these prosecutions further, I hope you understand this is nothing personal."
If you just say "no" and abruptly close the door, sure that might look a little bit suspicious. Also, educating them about the issues could help (send them links to media sites, never your own content).
Edit: Also, "No, you can't use my bathroom." ;)
If they are talking to you given the time management the job requires, you are already suspicious.
If there is one thing I learned from growing up on a reservation is that the only response to the FBI is "I will not talk unless my lawyer is present and s/he advises me to talk".
// if a Federal Marshall wants to talk, you are screwed
I would check with your lawyer for appropriate boilerplate. IANAL, but I'm guessing that at the business level FBI agents are used to not being able to talk without lawyers.
That said, I would be profoundly concerned as well if I got a visit out of the blue from some LEOs without some context.
Be polite, truthful (without over-sharing) and record the meeting.
Often times, I forget to turn off my digital voice recorder after lectures. I find recording and typing notes later to be easier than frantically jotting down notes; also even I can't read my own handwriting. If someone were to bump into me and have a chat, that's on the recording as well.
Some time ago, I got a visit from two gentlemen from the FBI. They were very polite and respectful, even though my mom was very scared, they reassured her that this was just an exploratory meeting. They also prefixed my name with "Mr." which was a bit of a delight for me because I was still a teenager back then and used to "hey you".
I think I probably still have their cards somewhere.
Nothing really happened. They got an anonymous phone call regarding something I may have said in school and wanted to see if there was something to it. Turns out it was a panicked busybody (and this was after 9/11) and they weren't even that clear on what was said. It wasn't anything even remotely requiring a lawyer's presence.
I want to agree with you, but how do you know that (I'm making the assumption here that you're not a lawyer, which may be incorrect)? This seems like the main issue - we (as in the common, non lawyery-types) don't necessarily know what things may or may not be incriminating. I'm not trying to instill a sense of fear, and I would always cooperate with law enforcement to the best of my abilities, but not at the risk of doing or saying something which could subsequently implicate me in something which is technically illegal and could get me arrested, convicted or deported.
Perhaps excusable given your age and your "polite and respectful" experience, but please please be aware that following this advice could end in tragedy.
Anything during that conversation could have been used against them in the future no matter how innocent it actually is. Or if they lied without meaning to, boom, you just lied to a law enforcement officer which is instant crime.
Guess what, no matter how friendly you are to them up front, they are still going to come and rip out all your equipment later and return it after years pass when it's all thrown out of court because nothing actually wrong was done.
Let's say you decide to talk with them. Now that you are talking to them, if they decide during that conversation that you've "become agitated" and pull out their gun and shoot you in their "self defense", guess who investigates them? That's right, the FBI.
Guess how many times in the history of the FBI an officer was found to have shot someone inappropriately, even if they weren't armed? That's right, zero times.
It's more along the lines of: if a friendly law enforcement officer comes up to you and politely asks you some questions, many people have no problem being polite in return and answering them. Often the officer(s) will say something like "I just want to ask a few things, then I'll leave."
So 1) you'll think that the more you cooperate, the sooner you will be free from their presence, 2) you may fear that if you don't cooperate at all, they may harass you more, and finally 3) they may act like they are "doing you a favor" and so you may feel a bit compelled to do them a favor in return.
Federal agents in particular (FBI etc.) typically go this route. They'll try to build a rapport, "you-help-me, I-help-you", and may or may not subtly imply that if you don't respond they'll return for further questioning. They may even use classic interrogation tactics to make you more likely to answer them.
By simply not being accusatory or impolite, they have a much greater chance of getting the information they want.
The police are hoping you lie, because now they can easily trip you up later in court. Often they will just nod their heads and accept your complete BS and write it all down to give to the prosecutor. They will listen to an hour's worth of fabrications and pretend to be fooled by it so you talk some more, then arrest you because now you have provided them all they need.
In the UK police do this all the time with suspected drug importers. They show up and claim to whoever answers the door that if they tell them where the drugs are, this will all be sorted out with a fine or something and they will be on their way. The fool at the door agrees and now their entire place is ripped apart by a search and they are arrested and charged. There is a fine in UK/Ireland for cannabis drug posession, not for importing though.
Well, in America we have widespread political and legal illiteracy as well. I'm not talking about citizens not reading the Constitution, I'm talking about most people being unable to paraphrase the Fifth Amendment when asked. Aside from "plead the fifth" most people in America probably couldn't tell you what the amendment means. Yes, it applies to more than just courts. You won't be held to incriminate yourself, your property can't be unjustly seized without compensation, you must have due process and a jury, etc. etc. etc.
Americans lack basic Bill of Rights knowledge, because honestly, they don't teach it enough in schools. It's great that we have to stand up and pledge allegiance, but it would be nice if we had to repeat our own rights. As an American it bothers me.
Most people don't exercise that right when a police officer (or any other agent) speaks to them because it seems innocuous, and they don't think that their rights apply to a simple conversation with law enforcement.
All that said...I wouldn't say it's always unintelligent to speak to law enforcement without a lawyer...but still, most people should be aware of the right, and take judicious advantage of it.
Well, in America we have widespread political and legal
illiteracy as well. I'm not talking about citizens not
reading the Constitution, I'm talking about most people
being unable to paraphrase the Fifth Amendment when asked.
Aside from "plead the fifth" most people in America
probably couldn't tell you what the amendment means. Yes,
it applies to more than just courts. You won't be held to
incriminate yourself, your property can't be unjustly
seized without compensation, you must have due process and
a jury, etc. etc. etc.
Now of course I don't recommend playing head games with law enforcement officers, when they figure it out it irritates them (just like it would probably irritate you when someone was playing head games with you) But I do recommend playing this game with friends. The benefit is that if you play it for a while you be able to recognize pretty quickly when someone is playing with you (friend or not) and then you can either call them out on it (if you are trying to establish higher levels of trust) or play back (at which point there will be a reaction which varies all over the map).
It's sort of like lock picking, a skill that is fun to have but you really don't think you will use it in your professional dealings with people.
Very relevant: http://jonathanturley.org/2013/05/11/why-the-fbi-doesnt-reco...
So when you get pulled over for a speeding ticket, do you refuse to speak, demand to see your lawyer, and plead the fifth?
If the FBI came to my house to ask questions and I said, "Friends, I'd rather not speak with you without a lawyer present - you know how it is", how do I go about getting said lawyer without going bankrupt?
As far as I am aware, you do not have to answer them if they question you. This might frustrate the FBI however, and different agents will likely respond in different ways.
That's the worrying thing. One guy might just go "OK", and that's it. Another guy might pistol-whip you, claim you assaulted him, and haul you in for "enhanced interrogation".
Stanford prison experiment tells you just about everything you need to know about the mindset of LE.
There are a TON of organizations and crazy individuals who are out to harm innocents and cause destruction, it's the FBI's job to prevent that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_the_United_States
Edit: Wtf, so everyone here just prefers anarchy?
What about 1Gb fiber connection makes one a terrorist?
What about buying Uranium off Amazon[1] makes one a terrorist?
What about starting an organization that promotes technology in the Midwest, a typically rural and industrial location, in need of new sectors makes one a terrorist?
The point is that we need to be more nuanced in our approach and show restraint. There are a lot of people with crazy ideas, however, doing things differently or having eclectic hobbies or dreams isn't what makes someone a terrorist.
What do we prefer?
We prefer freedom, liberty, and privacy to live our lives according to our own desires. Our desire for real safety is there, but security theater is ineffective. We can not prevent all terrorism, we can not prevent all harm. It is the cost of the freedom, liberty and privacy and one that we should be willing to pay. These are not absolutes, and trade offs can certainly be made. But today, we have traded too much freedom, liberty, and privacy for a false sense of security.
This is what we prefer: real safety balanced with real freedom, liberty and privacy.
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Images-SI-Inc-Uranium-Ore/dp/B000796XX...
The point of FBI agents contacting people and reaching out is to get a human perspective on their situation, to be able to put in their file things that raw stats cannot show. Yes, purchasing uranium outside of an academic setting is a red flag.
How do you propose we achieve "real safety"?
> "There are a lot of people with crazy ideas, however, doing things differently or having eclectic hobbies or dreams isn't what makes someone a terrorist."
Then what does mark someone as a potential terrorist? Remember you must PREVENT crimes, not just punish people who commit crimes. Nobody was arrested or even felt like they were about to be arrested, it was a friendly and optional meeting to feel out their intentions.
There is a huge amount of variables that must be considered to identify someone with the potential to cause harm to society and commit terrorism. Usually that individual keeps quiet and is halfway good about preventing law enforcement from finding out. A face-to-face conversation allows an FBI agent to gauge the situation and hopefully figure out what that individual or organizations true motives are. If they are an energy startup, then fine, no problem, that's was the point of the meeting. Now there are 300+ million more people that the FBI has to make sure doesn't decide to start blowing up citizens, public officials, or organizations.
False positives are frustrating and time-wasting, but the reality is when you're trying to find something as infrequent and stealthy as terror cells, you're going to have a lot more false positives than actual hits. We have to trade off false positives against the risk of false negatives (not detecting actual terrorists), and so long as competent police-work confines the impact of the false positives to these sorts of quick and semi-intrusive visits it's not that bad. Obviously if the FBI screws up and ends up with an intrusive and wasteful investigation here that's a problem.
[1] - I'm aware we're trying to reclaim the word, but it still has a certain evil connotation in the public mind.
Googling for Hacker House gives a list of places that I would call "communes for entrepeneaurs", publically listed. I would be far more concerned about a place that was ordering uranium and wasn't public; wasn't engaging. People trying to hide their work with uranium are more suspicious than some sort of union organizer related to nuclear plants working out of a startup home...
There is a lot of space between anarchy and cops asking around about a perfectly legit place.
Privacy is not wrong.
Yes, the FBI has a file on any activist, anyone who visits a country unfriendly to the US, anyone has a written a hateful email/letter to a public official, everyone who has committed a violent crime, anyone who owns a gun, and anyone who has the potential or motive to harm citizens. It's their JOB. It's what the organization was created to do.
Lookup how many major terrorist events are prevented by the FBI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_the_United_States#...
Then they also prevent bank robberies, ID theft, public official corruption, and more.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation
Also, who above the age of two doesn't have the "potential" to harm citizens?
It's no accident that they showed up dressed casually or that one "had" to use the restroom. Entirely planned. These are experienced investigators. The fact that multiple agents showed up is a bad sign. That means they're devoting some significant resources to this investigation.
I don't know if I would hire an attorney yet, but it might be time for everyone involved to ask around for recommendations and have some contact info for an attorney on hand in case you needed it.
Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of an FBI-bugged hacker house.
If you leave cops roaming around your house alone, you may need to consider your hardware compromised. Also, in such a situation, cops would have the opportunity to plant bugs or even "evidence".
FBI agents should no longer be considered to be on the side of American citizens. Not with their constant snooping, their attitude that anyone with a computer is a potential hacker etc.
I would have made them stay outside of the place, listen to them talk for a min or two and said "thanks for coming and talk later." Then close the door.
The fact that there are questions as to whether the FBI understands this distinction is terrifying.
"My apologies. I understand it would be unwise for me to have a conversation with you without, at the very least, consulting with an attorney. I have no problem talking to you within the correct framework. If there's something relevant to your visit my lawyer and I should consider I ask that you submit it to me in writing in order to avoid any misunderstanding. I appreciate your time. Please let me know if my lawyer and I should contact you and how to go about doing so."
A little verbose, I know. Perhaps those with legal training on HN can suggest and help evolve a clear and concise non-threatening statement one could commit to memory for such illustrious occasions? It sure sounds like the tech world is intersecting with law enforcement with greater frequency these days. It would behoove any entrepreneur and their staff to fully understand how to deal with these events in a manner that does not generate additional risk or liability for anyone.
I saw this same sort of thing from FBI agents ~17 years ago... feigning ignorance and asking all sorts of questions.
I realized soon after that it was all a ploy. They almost certainly knew more about the subject than I did.