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The IRS Has Stingray Devices (theguardian.com)
An anonymous reader writes: The Guardian reports that the use of stingray technology — devices that simulate cell towers in order to gather phone data — is not limited to intelligence agencies and law enforcement. It turns out the Internal Revenue Service owns some of the devices as well. It's unknown how or why the tax agency uses the stingray devices. The only reason The Guardian figured it out was that they happened to see an IRS invoice from when they paid a company to upgrade one of their devices and provide training on its use. It's thought they're being used when the IRS collaborates with other agencies to knock down money laundering operations. "... there are currently between 2,000 and 3,000 "special agents" in the IRS who form the criminal investigation division (CID). They have the ability to get PEN register orders – the only authority needed to use Stingray devices."
the use of stingray technology is not limited to intelligence agencies and law enforcement.
there are currently between 2,000 and 3,000 "special agents" in the IRS who form the criminal investigation division (CID).
Does that not count as law enforcement? I mean, yeah, it's tax, so it's not one of the cool crimes, but still.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
The FBI is part of the DOJ, which recently announced that they were going to get warrants before deploying their Stingrays. The IRS is part of the Treasury Department, which is OK with using them with only a Pen Register request.
In cases where the agencies are working together, it's likely they have IRS agents use their own device with the much lower standard of evidence, per department policy.