(AP/Rich Pedroncelli) Police departments around the country are using a secretive device known as the StingRay to monitor phone activity to track criminals — but they're not allowed to say anything about the technology or how it works, as The New York Times reports.
The technology is capable of capturing texts, emails, phone calls, and location data, The Times details in its report. The report says the StingRay often obtains information about devices near the target rather than just the intended device.
The device caused controversy in Silicon Valley recently when Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith asked county officials to pay $502,000 for the technology, though she refused to offer details beyond saying it could be used to track the cell phones of terrorists and other criminals, according to The Times.
Though we don't know too much about the StingRay, which sometimes goes by other names such as KingFish, reports have managed to piece together some information about how it is being used and where.
Based on reports, here's what we know;
It's able to gain such access to mobile devices because it tricks phones into thinking it is a cell tower, and it is often referred to as a "cell site simulator." The Washington Post has a helpful graphic that breaks down how the device works. When the StingRay is turned on, the signals from nearby phones are redirected to it as if it were a cell tower.
It is designed so that cell-phone carriers and users can't detect its use, according to The Post.
We don't know exactly how widely the technology has been adopted because police departments are forced to sign nondisclosure agreements overseen by the FBI when purchasing the devices, The Times reports. But the American Civil Liberties Union has put together a graphic showing all of the states across the country that are believed to be using the StingRay based on available documents and reports. Both state and local police forces are believed to be using the StingRay in New York, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois, according to the ACLU's map. Only local police are believed to be using the technology in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Michigan, Arizona, California, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska. StingRay activity in most states is unknown.
The devices are usually paid for by individual agencies, according to The Times, but in some instances the federal government pays for the cell site simulators through Homeland Security grants.
Though we are hearing a lot about StingRay now, it is not necessarily new. Law enforcement members in North Carolina have been said to have used it in 2013, according to The Post.
Harris, the company that makes StingRay devices, has made $40 million from spy technology contracts with city, state, and federal authorities in the US, according to procurement records obtained by Ars Technica in 2013.
There's been a lot of speculation as to how the information obtained by these StingRay devices is being used. "It might be a totally legitimate business interest, or maybe they're trying to keep people from realizing there are bigger privacy problems," Orin Kerr, a privacy law expert at George Washington University, told The Times. "What's the secret that they're trying to hide?"
Well that is bull.
So those departments that have it will be able to trick any phone near by and give the person (cop) private information.
Well I guess I can always shut off my phone while driving, to avoid nude pictures of myself in the hands of a fat cop... Not that I do take such picture...
So what do you guys think about this?
Is it a good thing for cops to use to "catch" criminals or just no?
If they tend to do this, they should at least have a court order before accessing phone information and reasonable evidence of suspecting said criminal of illegal activity. Also, it has to be within jurisdiction or handle by the FBI if its dealing with Federal chargers and CIA or Homeland security with regards to USA national defense.
I think us Americans gave up our rights a long time ago without realizing it. The government is already invading our privacy. Next thing you know they will implant chips into our children without consent.
I think us Americans gave up our rights a long time ago without realizing it. The government is already invading our privacy. Next thing you know they will implant chips into our children without consent.
I know. That's just sad. We were stupid to give most of it to the government through laws. Thinking we wasn't going to be oppressed. Unfortunately, we were wrong.
Just imagine if someone were to some how steal this device or obtain it from a dirty cop to sell to hackers or other groups trying to obtain credit card information,etc that people usaully save on their phones on notes and websites.
Not like FBI,etc ever have their stuff go missing before.That will never happen...oh wait.
Well, i'm not american, but if i were i don't think i would care... much.
I mean, even if the police were to check my private stuff and come across something embarassing, what are they going to do about it? The only thing they have to do is their job and move on. If this helps catching criminals i think its only for the best.
On the other hand I wouldn't feel comfortable, but if i have nothing criminal to hide i don't think there would be any problem.
Well, i'm not american, but if i were i don't think i would care... much.
I mean, even if the police were to check my private stuff and come across something embarassing, what are they going to do about it? The only thing they have to do is their job and move on. If this helps catching criminals i think its only for the best.
On the other hand I wouldn't feel comfortable, but if i have nothing criminal to hide i don't think there would be any problem.
