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Cops Say NDA Kept Them from Notifying Courts About Cell Phone Tracking Gadget
schwit1 writes "Police in Florida have offered a startling excuse for having used a controversial 'stingray' cell phone tracking gadget 200 times without ever telling a judge: the device's manufacturer made them sign a non-disclosure agreement that they say prevented them from telling the courts. The shocking revelation, uncovered by the American Civil Liberties Union, came during an appeal over a 2008 sexual battery case in Tallahassee in which the suspect also stole the victim's cell phone. Using the stingray — which simulates a cell phone tower in order to trick nearby mobile devices into connecting to it and revealing their location — police were able to track him to an apartment."
Confidentiality agreements do not supersede the law, court orders, the constitution, or anything else. Private contractual agreements always take a back seat to binding Law and Court Orders.
The police department in question probably asked for an NDA to give them rationalization for breaking the law.
One can assume ONE of the following is true about the police department:
1. They are completely ignorant of the laws and the Constitution that they have sworn to uphold
2. They conspired to withhold information from the courts.
Either way, I believe that credit should be given where credit is due.