Monday, March 16, 2015

A Police Gadget Tracks Phones? Shhh! It’s Secret - NYTimes.com

A multifaceted sign of the times

"The technology goes by various names, including StingRay, KingFish or, generically, cell site simulator. It is a rectangular device, small enough to fit into a suitcase, that intercepts a cellphone signal by acting like a cellphone tower.

The technology can also capture texts, calls, emails and other data, and prosecutors have received court approval to use it for such purposes.

Cell site simulators are catching on while law enforcement officials are adding other digital tools, like video cameras, license-plate readers, drones, programs that scan billions of phone records and gunshot detection sensors. Some of those tools have invited resistance from municipalities and legislators on privacy grounds."
A Police Gadget Tracks Phones? Shhh! It’s Secret - NYTimes.com

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