USPS Says NY Times Article Titled ‘Report Reveals Wider Tracking of Mail in U.S.’ is Extremely Disappointing

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

November 06, 2014
For USPS by Toni DeLancey

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 State 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. setting-record-straight-nov2014

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.