But it also connects with all other phones in the targeted area, potentially sucking up the data of people who aren’t suspected of being involved in crimes.
#Watchdog software for cell phones simulator
The Stingray is a cell site simulator that tricks cell phones into connecting with it, allowing police to pinpoint the location of the phone. In today’s modern world, we have to be adaptive to evolving threats in order to provide the highest quality police services.“ “We take the responsibility of protecting and serving our community very seriously. Scott Wahl said the city’s use of the Stingray complies with constitutional requirements, and the technology “provides valuable assistance in support of important public safety objectives, such as felony fugitive apprehensions, the rescue of kidnapping victims, and the preservation of life. In a statement San Diego police spokesman Lt. “I think what we’re seeing in San Diego isn’t unique,” she said, judging from information in lawsuits or news reports about how the several dozen other departments around the country that have cell site simulators use the tool “It’s been rarely, if ever, used it seems for terrorism investigations in most places.” And I think it’s the expectations of most citizens that it’s being used for terrorism type crimes.” “We thought it would be used in Homeland Security or terrorism types of situations,” she said, “and not for common crimes like they have been using it for. Kelly Aviles, a lawyer for the group who litigated the suit, said she was surprised at first to see that San Diego police had deployed the Stingray for street-level crimes. The agreements, disclosed earlier this year in the wake of a lawsuit filed against the city by the First Amendment Coalition, prohibit police from disclosing information about how the device works in search warrants, affidavits or other forums without prior approval from the FBI.
Like other agencies around the country that have purchased a Stingray, police are required to sign air-tight non-Disclosure Agreements with the manufacturer, Harris Corporation, and the FBI. The records, despite the redactions, provide a level of detail into how police have used the device that was not previously known, because its use has long been shrouded in secrecy. In response the city provided hundreds of pages of documents, including emails and memos, and a batch of forms labeled “Cell Phone Tracking Log” and “Cell Site Simulator Worksheet.” The San Diego Union-Tribune asked the city for any records that logged or registered when the device was used. Those documents could describe Stingray investigations that are being withheld for investigatory or other legal reasons, but it is impossible to determine. Scores of documents produced by the city are entirely redacted, a solid block of black from the top of the page to the bottom, and other pages have sections heavily redacted too. That’s not to say local police have not used the device for terrorism or national security-type investigations. The records show that the Stingray, widely promoted as a powerful surveillance tool that could be used to hunt terrorists, has become integrated into everyday police work.
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