[ Originally published on April 12th, 2015 ]
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:
Civilian
law enforcement agencies across the U.S. [United
States of America]
are using
covert spy technology known as “Stingray”
tracking
devices. This spy technology was originally developed and implemented
by the U.S.
Federal Bureau
of Investigation,
and has since spread to over a dozen U.S. federal agencies. These
agencies have forced
civilian law enforcement agencies to sign
non-disclosure
agreements
about
the technology and its use. Because of this, courts across the U.S.
have been
forced
to throw out
legitimate
criminal cases because the authorities have been unable [and
unwilling]
to discuss the methods which they used to obtain evidence in the
cases.
Stingrays,
also known as “cell site
simulators” or “IMSI
[International
Mobile Subscriber Identity]
catchers”
are invasive
surveillance devices
that mimic cell phone towers. They send out signals which
trick cell phones in the area into transmitting their locations and
identifying information. When used to track a suspect’s cell phone,
they also gather information about the phones of countless
bystanders.
[
^ How
a Stingray
cellphone-tracking device works.
]
The
ACLU
[American
Civil Liberties Union]
has identified 48
civilian law enforcement agencies in 20
U.S. states [as
well as
the District of Columbia]
that currently use Stingrays, though many agencies continue to hide
such purchases and use them in secret. Due to the ACLU raising
awareness on the issue, many U.S. judges and prosecutors have forced
police to receive special
permission
before
using Stingrays.
[ ^ How a StingRay works. ]
Stay conscious my friends.
~ Merit Freeman
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