mercredi 12 février 2014

Stingray Gives LAPD Power To Spy On Non-Suspects' Phones

By Cornelius Nunev


Civilian security is alive and well, because of regional terrorism investigations required by the Patriot Act. According to L.A. Weekly, the latest risk to an individual's privacy and liberty is a real-time cellphone spy system called StingRay. While intended for intercepting enemy transmissions, reports suggest that the Los Angeles Police Department used StingRay 21 times in a four-month duration of 2012 for routine investigations, where non-suspects' private devices were exposed, unknowingly to the court system. Call it collateral damage, as the non-suspects lived near persons the LAPD thought were terrorists. Better yet, call it collateral erosion of the individual privileges of complacent citizens.

Calls not private

Of the 155 StingRay cell phone investigation cases the LAPD faced between June and September last year, over 13 percent of cases exposed the communications of innocent non-suspects without their awareness or consent. The LAPD has had access to StingRay technology since 2006, because of subsidies from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The intent was for StingRay to be used specifically for terrorism investigations, but the LAPD has documented proof that there have been burglary, drug and homicide inspections where StingRay was pressed into use. As yet, LAPD officials have refused to address questions concerning the StingRay technology, including whether the department thinks it has the legal right to use the technology in a way that invades the privacy of non-suspects.

The LAPD manuals do not make it clear if this kind of StingRay use is allowed legally without an order from a judge, according to First Amendment Coalition executive director Peter Scheer. He also notes that he does not think it should be allowed. Those who use the technology say it is extremely hard to stay away from every person else when in proximity to a suspect, so people should not be offended.

StingRay also circumvents carrier technology

Civic privileges activists do not like the StingRay technology because it used to be that regulators had to get permission before they could use technology such as it. Now, authorities can carry around the StingRay technology and use it in secret if they want to.

How should StingRay fit in with privacy laws?

Privacy laws need to be addressed since StingRay may be hurting a lot of privacy rights for consumers. Many attorneys agree with American Civil Liberties Union attorney Linda Lye who believes that the law needs to look at StingRay and create brand new legislation so privacy violations will be avoided.



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