In the wake of the Edward Snowden leaks detailing NSA bulk data collection techniques, warrant-less wiretaps, and other Orwellian-like practices, many people feel as though the tools the US federal government are utilizing in these endeavors are some advanced out-of-reach form of technology. While there is no private sector alternative to wiretaps, many people are not aware of the fact that the same databases that they hear about government agencies such as the National Security Agency using, are the databases that have been used by skilled private investigators for years.
