ACLU seeks info on how police use cellphone data

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The use of cellphone location data by law enforcement agencies is "shrouded in secrecy" even though it has become widespread throughout the country, the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday in demanding the agencies disclose how they collect and use the data.

The civil rights organization said 34 of its affiliates around the country have filed open-records requests with hundreds of law enforcement agencies seeking disclosure on cellphone location data, which can be used to pinpoint where people go with their phones.

"We have a lot of questions about how people are tracked in this country," said Catherine Crump, staff attorney for the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. "Technology is an increasingly powerful way to engage in surveillance."

She said law enforcement officials should be required to demonstrate probable cause and get warrants before tracking cellphone locations.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/03/3814950/aclu-seeks-info-on-how-police.html

[virgogal]

1. So I am being attacked,I dial 911,and if the attacker grabs my phone

and disconnects the call a warrant would be needed?

Gee,that's comforting.

[Poll_Blind]

4. Heh heh, do you really believe that silliness? No warrant is needed under exigent circumstances...

...where the police have reason to believe that there is imminent danger to someone's life (your example) or to property. Just calling 911 would qualify as such an instance.

PB

[virgogal]

5. Whew ! Thanks.

[JAnthony]

2. ACLU, I support, give money to. But cell phone traces to find locations

PERFECTLY OK with me!

Anything else from cell phones? Well, the technology is new, so new, I want to know what the ACLU is able to tell us. If a web surf, if I use my phone to plan a trip, use it to listen to Marxist lectures, I'd like to know what the police or any agency can find out about me.

[Supply Side Jesus]

3. Cell Phone complanies don't give us anything unless exigency exists.

We have to articulate reasons for triangulation. I had a company deny requests when I was tracking a "suicidal" person down. They claimed the statements were too vague to be considered suicidal in nature. Frustrating but it was their decision.

[saras]

6. No one here has postulated its use against reporters or activists...

yet historical evidence from other places indicates that it will almost certainly be used for this purpose.

[midnight]

8. I know. Can you imagine.

[midnight]

7. Police say:"It's done for a legitimate law enforcement purpose," he said. "There's no other reason

He said examples of non-criminal cases in which police have used cellphone tracking include locating people lost in the woods and finding people who made 911 calls but hung up.

In New Jersey, he said, the use of cellphone location data in higher-level criminal cases is limited and investigators first have to obtain communication data warrants from a judge.

"It's done for a legitimate law enforcement purpose," he said. "There's no other reason to do it."



Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/03/3814950/aclu-seeks-info-on-how-police.html#ixzz1U1bwm4li

[saras]

9. Of course, police say that, by definition, everything they do is legitimate law enforcement

When's the last time you heard a police officer, or more important, a chief or leader, say "it's illegal and wrong, and we're going to punish everyone involved in it" about corruption found INSIDE the department?