BART admits halting cell service to stop protesters

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 8/12/11 | Michael Cabanatuan, Chronicle Staff Writer

[SmithL]

BART officials acknowledged this afternoon that they shut down cell phone and wireless data service in its downtown San Francisco stations to disrupt a planned protest. Their announcement sparked denunciations from civil libertarians and the apparent threat of a cyber-attack on the BART website.

A statement posted on the transit agency's website said the communications blackout was ordered in the interest of public safety:

"Organizers planning to disrupt BART service on August 11, 2011 stated they would use mobile devices to coordinate their disruptive activities and communicate about the location and number of BART Police," the statement reads.

"A civil disturbance during commute times at busy downtown San Francisco stations could lead to platform overcrowding and unsafe conditions for BART customers, employees and demonstrators. BART temporarily interrupted service at select BART stations as one of many tactics to ensure the safety of everyone on the platform."

[ScreamingFist]

Last time I looked it was a SERVICE we PAY for. When that is uninterrupted intentionally, for no reason, it is called theft.

Are you one of those people in the airport that constantly stare at their cell phone, waiting for it to ring?

[Califreak]

>Last time I looked it was a SERVICE we PAY for. When that is uninterrupted intentionally, for no reason, it is called theft.<

Agreed. There are a lot of angles to this issue.

[This I Wonder32460]

Did I read this right, they were protesting the shooting death of a “knife wielding man”? What is there to protest?

[Califreak]

I wish we could ban rioters.

[nascarnation]

“planned protest”

is this like the “days of rage” coming to NYC in Sept?

why protest in liberal enclaves?

go to Texas and take on the real bad guys

/snort

[JRandomFreeper]

I don’t think what they did was such a bad thing.

Except, technically, it's against federal law and ITU treaties. Jamming or impeding telecommunications traffic is unlawful. For over 100 years.

/johnny

[jessduntno]

“Are you one of those people in the airport that constantly stare at their cell phone, waiting for it to ring?”

Geez, that was lame. Or were you responding to the wrong post?

[Califreak]

>Except, technically, it’s against federal law and ITU treaties. Jamming or impeding telecommunications traffic is unlawful. For over 100 years.<

I didn’t realize what they did was technically illegal.

But then, we’re discussing SF here. They make their own rules.

[bboop]

I don’t think it’s such a bad thing, either. There are phones and all sorts of ways to get emergency help. They are using things for flash-mobs, stop the service.

[oh8eleven]

I guess they'd just do whatever used to be done before anyone ever had cell phones, right?
It's truly amazing how reliant some people have become on technology instead of their brains.

[JRandomFreeper]

cell phones are easily jammed or the cell towers simply cut off.

Technically correct. Easy peasy to do even if I've had a few beers and only have a screwdriver, hammer, finishing nails, and my trusty leatherman.

It is, however, unlawful, the world over, under the ITU treaties.

/johnny

[ScreamingFist]

Jamming or impeding telecommunications traffic is unlawful. For over 100 years.

Yea well, that was before every flash mob in America and the UK started to use their phones to loot and riot. Frankly, I'd love to see cell phone service cut off for days to entire cities, the yoots would just wander in circles staring at the little screen.

[fremont_steve]

The only way they can do this is in underground BART stations where they would have enabled the cell service explicitly. It wouldn’t have worked in parts of the system that are above ground.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Using cell phones to coordinate public disruptions of a public service or private business is an abuse. The agents of chaos can kiss my grits when their play-toys are temporarily disabled for the sake of peaceful, common discourse.

[21twelve]

Sounds like they have their own cell “towers” in their stations as a convenience to their riders? I think if that were the case - not sure I see the problem with it. Although I suppose they are some form of government entity - so a bit more tricky than if it was some private company.

[rockrr]

BART did not immediately offer details of how the shutdown took place, how long it lasted or what stations were affected.

While I would be more supportive if they had made some sort of announcement that they were actively jamming the phones, I don't see a problem with this.

[ScreamingFist]

Geez, that was lame. Or were you responding to the wrong post?

Naw, I was just giving you some heat, nothing personal. I have a cell phone for one reason, to make calls. I don't tweet, text, download the latest movies, play games nor decide where to riot with it. If it was turned off by authorities I probably would not notice for a day or so. Your mileage may vary.....

[JRandomFreeper]

Frankly, I'd love to see cell phone service cut off for days to entire cities, the yoots would just wander in circles staring at the little screen.

While I understand your feelings, logically, I'm hesitant to stop the multi-million dollar deals that are negotiated via cell phones in the same cities. That's just business.

This is clearly a case of interstate commerce. Feds get to call this one.

/johnny

[tomkat]

A violation of civil riots!!???

[DJ MacWoW]

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