Cellphone Tracking Powers on Request

[cal04]

Source: Washington Post

Secret Warrants Granted Without Probable Cause
Federal officials are routinely asking courts to order cellphone companies to furnish real-time tracking data so they can pinpoint the whereabouts of drug traffickers, fugitives and other criminal suspects, according to judges and industry lawyers.

In some cases, judges have granted the requests without requiring the government to demonstrate that there is probable cause to believe that a crime is taking place or that the inquiry will yield evidence of a crime. Privacy advocates fear such a practice may expose average Americans to a new level of government scrutiny of their daily lives.

Such requests run counter to the Justice Department's internal recommendation that federal prosecutors seek warrants based on probable cause to obtain precise location data in private areas. The requests and orders are sealed at the government's request, so it is difficult to know how often the orders are issued or denied.

The issue is taking on greater relevance as wireless carriers are racing to offer sleek services that allow cellphone users to know with the touch of a button where their friends or families are. The companies are hoping to recoup investments they have made to meet a federal mandate to provide enhanced 911 (E911) location tracking. Sprint Nextel, for instance, boasts that its "loopt" service even sends an alert when a friend is near, "putting an end to missed connections in the mall, at the movies or around town."


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/22/AR2007112201444.html?hpid=topnews

[lligrd]

1. Even With Probable Cause This Should Be Illegal

I pay for my cell phone services. If the government wants to use the services let them pay my friggen cell phone bill.

[kurth]

2. Another reason not to upgrade your phone until the next Democratic administration

[tesla78]

3. Cellphones can be used as a listening device too

Cellphones can also be used as remote listening devices. It is a matter of activating the feature with the phone company. This fact was disclosed on a tech web site some time ago. Tracking users is just icing on the cake for the authoritarians.

[Dr.Phool]

4. The FBI can turn a cell phone into a bug, even when it's turned off.

The battery has to be removed.

[EST]

5. Yeah, I read about that.

Not that it means a lot, but I no longer have a cell phone. My wife wants to keep hers on all the time, even when she's home (it does not work well at all when she's home-no close towers.)

None of the probable futures, re privacy,looks particularly good.

[TheWraith]

8. Actually, that's never been proven to be true.

One outfit claimed to be able to do it, but they never demonstrated it on any cell phones they hadn't personally pre-prepared.

[tesla78]

12. It was proven true

FBI Taps Cell Phone Microphones in Mafia Case

"We already knew the FBI can secretly listen in to car conversations by activating microphones of systems like OnStar. A new Mafia court case suggests that the FBI can do the same thing to cell phones. The judge's opinion and some background information are available for reading online. The most disturbing thing? According to the judge, the bug worked even if the phone appeared to be 'powered off.'"

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/02/0415209

[jody]

6. IMO DIA routinely does that without judicial approval. John Poindexter

began work on the Information Awareness Office , a plan to watch Americans like the Stasi watched East Germans -- but using technology this time, instead of people.

IAO was defunded by Congress in 2003 but I'll bet key remnants remain. :tinfoilhat:

[Cobalt-60]

7. Perhaps we should carry the phone in our Butt Crack

It would cut down on borrowing.
And would treat eaves droppers to a wind instrument symphony.

[pinniped]

9. That POS AT&T will comply without those silly search warrants.

.

[truthisfreedom]

10. *shrug* It's easy to turn off a cell phone while traveling. Take out the battery.

Problem solved.

[12string]

11. problem solved

I would have to disagree.That is more akin to relieving the
symptom but not attacking the disease.

[allisonthegreat]

13. just another kick in the but from this adm.n/t