I used to work in Law enforcement relations with a major cell phone provider. It’s kinda fascinating what law enforcement can do with a subpoena. And all this device tells them is what number to subpoena.
Every time your phone pings the tower the ping is stored in a database. Each ping carries with it all information identifying your phone and, therefore, the owner of the phone. Once they have that, they can subpoena all these pings as far back as they feel is necessary. It’s like time travel. Once you are on their radar, they can trace your phone’s precise whereabouts for years into the past.
And actually that information is available to the owner of the phone as well. I can use my google account to see where I went on any day in the past for years back. My flights to seattle show me driving I-65 to Nashville, and then a straight line to Seatac airport (I’m not pinging from 35,000 feet), and then everywhere I went in Seattle.
So this means that once the cops use this device at an event, they can correlate the phones’ locations and see when multiple members were in the same place at the same time, and where that place is.
It’s all pretty fascinating. That’s why I tell people that if they are going to commit a crime, leave your phone at home. ;)
And If you are going to want to take video and pictures at an event, use a real camera.
“... identifying your phone and, therefore, the owner of the phone...” How about who is in possession of the phone. Not necessarily the owner. May not be the owner.
“And If you are going to want to take video and pictures at an event, use a real camera.” LOL! Yup. I showed Mrs rktman the google picture page. All her screen shots, recipes etc. Yikes. Then again, if you don’t want someone to see a picture, NEVER take it in the first place.
if they are going to commit a crime, leave your phone at home. ;)
= = =
So, when my phone location is static for some time, would that be evidence that I am out committing a crime?
In some folks’ minds?