Police Keep Quiet About Cell-Tracking Technology

[Jesus Malverde]

Police across the country may be intercepting phone calls or text messages to find suspects using a technology tool known as Stingray. But they're refusing to turn over details about its use or heavily censoring files when they do.

Police say Stingray, a suitcase-size device that pretends it's a cell tower, is useful for catching criminals, but that's about all they'll say.

For example, they won't disclose details about contracts with the device's manufacturer, Harris Corp., insisting they are protecting both police tactics and commercial secrets. The secrecy - at times imposed by nondisclosure agreements signed by police - is pitting obligations under private contracts against government transparency laws.

Even in states with strong open records laws, including Florida and Arizona, little is known about police use of Stingray and any rules governing it.

A Stingray device tricks all cellphones in an area into electronically identifying themselves and transmitting data to police rather than the nearest phone company's tower. Because documents about Stingrays are regularly censored, it's not immediately clear what information the devices could capture, such as the contents of phone conversations and text messages, what they routinely do capture based on how they're configured or how often they might be used.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUNSHINE_WEEK_POLICE_SURVEILLANCE

[pipoman]

1. The whole government secrecy/spying issue

Is so counter to the intent of our founders and our constitution it is time for legislative clarification if the courts are refusing to define these practices with case law.

People wonder why there is a populist movement. ..

[Jesus Malverde]

2. Technology is moving much faster than the courts and lawmakers in many areas.

Often by the time they catch up the new paradigm is reality.