Seattle PD Mum On Tracking By Its New Wi-Fi Mesh Network

An anonymous reader writes "The Stranger reports that Seattle's police department has installed a Wi-Fi mesh network paid for by the Department of Homeland Security. FTA: 'The SPD declined to answer more than a dozen questions from The Stranger, including whether the network is operational, who has access to its data, what it might be used for, and whether the SPD has used it (or intends to use it) to geo-locate people's devices via their MAC addresses or other identifiers.'"

Comments

How long before

[Anonymous Coward]

How long before we see something like this:

Cops show up at "suspects" work or home

Cops: "Sir, your MAC address was at the scene of the crime/terrorist attack yesterday. How do you explain that."

Suspect: "I have no idea."

Cops: "Sir, you need to come with us."

Neighbors or work associates: "WTF?! We were right next to the guy and he's a TERRORIST!"

And in the meantime, the criminals will just leave their electronic devices at home. - at least the smart ones. The terrorists will have none.

Badge + gun == grunt.

All this sophisticated tracking technology will only further destroy our freedoms.

Re:changing it is a good idea regardless

[EmagGeek]

No doubt there is a provision buried in Law somewhere that says that any attempt to subvert the surveillance system, obscure your identity, or obscure your location, shall constitution obstruction of police powers and land you in jail.