Police Keep Quiet About Cell-Tracking Technology

Associated Press ^ | Saturday, March 22, 2014 | Jack Gillum

[Star Traveler]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Police across the country may be intercepting phone calls or text messages to find suspects using a technology tool known as Stingray. But they're refusing to turn over details about its use or heavily censoring files when they do.

Police say Stingray, a suitcase-size device that pretends it's a cell tower, is useful for catching criminals, but that's about all they'll say.

For example, they won't disclose details about contracts with the device's manufacturer, Harris Corp., insisting they are protecting both police tactics and commercial secrets. The secrecy - at times imposed by nondisclosure agreements signed by police - is pitting obligations under private contracts against government transparency laws.

[grobdriver]

cell phone’s best friend should be a mylar potato chips bag

One Faraday Cage, coming up!
Any metal enclosure/box/bag will work fine - turn it off first else the battery will run down in Roaming mode.
Bury it (deep) and it becomes an EMP shield.

[VerySadAmerican]

I mean the people who elect the mayors and sheriffs think the local cops are only catching bad guys. We KNOW the ones wearing the badges are no different from jack booted Nazis. I’m getting to where my blood pressure goes up just looking at one of the fat asses.

[CodeToad]

Whenever I hear the phrase “catching bad guys”, I immediately think of Nazi supporters in 1933 that thought the Nazi were only doing what was best for Germany: Useful idiots.

[ops33]

I don’t have a problem with police doing legitimate criminal investigations but if they need a warrant to search my house they need a warrant to search my cell phone.