If you're repairing someone else's computer and come across child porn, aren't you obligated to report it? (if only to cover your own ass, as technically you are now in possession of cp).
Yes, if you come across anything illegal while repairing somebody's computer you are obligated to report it. However, you're not allowed to go looking for illegal stuff while repairing a computer.
And if the FBI is advertising cash rewards for "accidentally finding" illegal content, that sounds a lot like an illegal search.
The article seems to indicate that not only were they poking around but they were recovering deleted files.
Good that they may have caught this fellow -- especially given his profession -- but that's probably rather horrifying for a significant portion of other people who brought their computers in for repair.
Some professions are mandated to report any suspicion of child abuse. In NY, any teacher, medical provider and others can lose their license for failure to report.
Your general obligation, or obligation as an IT guy may vary... and you may have liability risk.
Personally, I'd consider it an ethical duty to report such a thing. But I wouldn't do so in an official capacity without advice of counsel.
Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
For anything to do with children, quite a few professions are mandated reporters including LEOs, all public and private school personnel except volunteers, social workers, and several other rather large fields. Depending on the state that list expands considerably. Even the clergy of religious institutions are included in 27 states, superceding confidentiality.
Other than LEOs, mandated reporting for general crimes depends largely on state laws except for fiduciary duties.
I see your point, but I also think that is substantially different than:
> including evidence the agency trained company technicians on law-enforcement operational tactics, shared lists of targeted citizens and, to covertly increase surveillance of the public, encouraged searches of computers even when unrelated to a customer's request for repairs.
I am not sure if it is the law. But there is a moral and ethical reason to report a crime if observed, depending on the severity and impact to the victims.
And if the FBI is advertising cash rewards for "accidentally finding" illegal content, that sounds a lot like an illegal search.