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Before Using StingRays, Police Must Sign NDA With FBI

Posted by samzenpus on from the the-first-rule-of-tracking-club dept.

v3rgEz writes Advanced cell phone tracking devices known as StingRays allow police nationwide to home in on suspects and to log individuals present at a given location. But before acquiring a StingRay, state and local police must sign a nondisclosure agreement with the FBI, according to documents released via a MuckRock FOIA request. As Shawn Musgrave reports, it's an unusual setup arrangement for two public agencies to swear each other to secrecy, but such maneuvers are becoming more common.

6 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Isn't mutual secrecy just implied? by swb · · Score: 5, Informative

    Of course we won't arrest you for drunk driving or domestic assault Mr. FBI, just like you won't arrest us for violating civil rights or using this highfalutin' cell phone spy gizmo.

  2. More common, and possibly unconstitutional... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because if they don't get a warrant, and don't tell the judge how they acquired the evidence, it's still OK, right?

    1. Re:More common, and possibly unconstitutional... by mythosaz · · Score: 5, Informative

      Nah, now that we've listened in on your phone calls, we'll begin our process of Parallel Construction.

      Thanks for making the calls though :)

    2. Re: More common, and possibly unconstitutional... by TheCarp · · Score: 4, Interesting

      No, that would imply republicans when the reality is, this is really a bipartisan screwing. The Democrats typically move in lockstep with the republicans when it comes to their shared belief that us peons don't even deserve the truth about what they are doing, never mind any rights to redress of actual grievance.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    3. Re:More common, and possibly unconstitutional... by NormalVisual · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Never happen. A previous poster alluded to parallel construction - what will happen is the suspect's calls will be listened to, then another agency will be given a time, location, and a car to look for. The suspect's car will get pulled over for failure to use a turn signal or some such, at which time a dog will be brought in, "alert" on the car, and the suspect will be arrested. These guys *know* that Stingray-gathered evidence won't hold up since the device itself can't be examined, and that operating them is contrary to FCC regulations to begin with. They can't allow any information gathered from them to be introduced into court, so parallel construction neatly solves all of their problems.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
  3. Re:What if they break the NDA? by Charliemopps · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Who goes to jail? Everyone who signed the NDA?

    Edward Snowden. He's also responsible for all future acts of Terrorism, wars, and the color Beige.