New Cellphone Surveillance Safeguards Imposed On Federal Law Enforcement

Earthquake Retrofit writes: The NPR website has an interesting story that the Justice Department says it will beef up legal requirements for using cell-site simulators. It includes a rare picture of the device and refers to them as dirt boxes. From the story: "Under the new policy, federal investigators will be required to get a warrant from a judge demonstrating probable cause, in most domestic criminal probes. Agents will need to explain to judges how the technology is being used. And they'll be directed to destroy volumes of bystanders' data 'no less than once daily.' 'This policy is really designed to ... try to promote transparency, consistency and accountability, all while being mindful of the public's privacy interest,' said Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates."

Comments

Re:Frosty piss

[ShanghaiBill]

These regulations only apply to federal agencies. State and local police, who perform the vast majority of surveillance, are not bound by these rules.

Yup

[bagofbeans]

Per EFF: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/09/finally-doj-reverses-course-and-will-get-warrants-stingrays/

First and foremost, without a statute or court decision giving this voluntary policy the force of law, there will be no consequences if law enforcement agents flout its terms and continue using Stingrays as they haveâ"without warrants. With only this policy shielding us, thereâ(TM)s nothing keeping warrantless Stingray evidence out of court, and therefore nothing to deter agents from behaving badly.