Senators demand info on unusual surveillance activity in DC

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: The Hill

Four senators on Wednesday requested that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclose additional information about cellular surveillance activity around Washington, D.C.

Reuters reported that Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) asked DHS to provide more information on a recent report that indicated foreign actors or criminals have been using eavesdropping devices to track cell phone activity around the nation’s capital.

“The American people have a legitimate interest in understanding the extent to which U.S. telephone networks are vulnerable to surveillance and are being actively exploited by hostile actors,” the senators wrote.

They noted in their letter that DHS had briefed federal agencies about the surveillance, but has not made details of the briefing public. DHS wrote Wyden late last month and told the senator it came across unauthorized cell-site simulators in the Washington, D.C., area last year. Such devices, also known as "stingrays," can track a user's location data through their mobile phones and can intercept cellphone calls and messages.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/383701-senators-demand-info-on-unusual-surveillance-activity-in-dc

[Shipwack]

1. Why does everyone act surprised at this revelation?

Of course other countries are trying (and succeeding more often than they should) to eaves drop on cellular calls in our capital. They probably do it in major cities, too. Keeping tabs on each other is what countries do.

Brace yourself; I’d bet good money that some of these foreign actors are allies, too, such as Great Britain.

[LanternWaste]

3. I see concern, but little surprise.

I see concern, but little surprise.

[DBoon]

2. These devices were demonstrated at Hacker Cons years ago

not surprising they are now deployed. It does not take the resources of a nation state to intercept cell calls.

https://www.wired.com/2010/07/intercepting-cell-phone-calls/