Secret Service Allowed To Use Warrantless Cellphone Tracking (myway.com)

mi writes: A mere belief in there being a threat against the President or any other protected person is now sufficient for the U.S. Secret Service to use cell-site simulators (commonly known as "stingrays"). In certain "exceptional circumstances," the stingrays can be used without a judge-signed warrant and even without probable cause. When asked whether this essentially granted a blanket exception for the Secret Service, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Seth Stodder said the exemption would not be used in routine criminal probes, such as a counterfeiting investigation. I suppose, the personal verbal assurance of an executive-branch government employee should put all fears of the citizenry to rest.

Comments

Voteobama?

[mi]

In 2008, when this very site discussed John McCain's opinion on warrantless wiretapping, his views were sufficiently unpopular for TFA to be tagged voteobama...

The first post requested a link on Obama's view on the subject — and got a +1 Interesting upvote. The reply — with a level-5 moderation — quoted a promise by the then junior Senator from Illinois thus:

Obama: No warrantless wiretaps if you elect me

All of you, fellow Slashdotters, who voted for the post-racial Nobel Peace Prize winner based on that (or similar) promise, should ask for your money back. Public self-flagellation is optional.