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Unredacted User Manuals Of Stingray Device Show How Accessible Surveillance Is (theintercept.com)

Posted by msmash on from the truth-is-out-there dept.

The Intercept has today published 200-page documents revealing details about Harris Corp's Stingray surveillance device, which has been one of the closely guarded secrets in law enforcement for more than 15 years. The firm, in collaboration with police clients across the U.S. have "fought" to keep information about the mobile phone-monitoring boxes from the public against which they are used. The publication reports that the surveillance equipment carries a price tag in the "low six figures." From the report:The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department alone has snooped via Stingray, sans warrant, over 300 times. Richard Tynan, a technologist with Privacy International, told The Intercept that the "manuals released today offer the most up-to-date view on the operation of" Stingrays and similar cellular surveillance devices, with powerful capabilities that threaten civil liberties, communications infrastructure, and potentially national security. He noted that the documents show the "Stingray II" device can impersonate four cellular communications towers at once, monitoring up to four cellular provider networks simultaneously, and with an add-on can operate on so-called 2G, 3G, and 4G networks simultaneously.

4 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. I would love to meet the product developers... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...and ask them whether they regard themselves as activists against the principles of their country's Constitution, or whether they believe they're only following orders, i.e. that the known way in which their product will be put to use is "not my dept.".

  2. They need MORE money! Pay your fair share! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Remember to pay your fair share!

    Because our government needs MORE money! Those Stringrays are EXPENSIVE!!!

    Do you really think it's safe to give even more money and more power to this government? WHAT FUCKING PLANET DO YOU LIVE ON!!?!?!?!

  3. And it's fine because they're cops by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For anyone else using this sort of device it would be an illegal wiretap, an FCC violation for unauthorized use of spectrum, interfering with a public utility, copyright violation, DMCA violation, vandalism, reckless endangerment (hey, 911 doesn't work when this is on y'know), interfering with emergency services, intent to commit identity fraud, computer misuse and a unauthorized use of computer equipment violation. Possibly even terrorism...sure, let's throw terrorism in there for good measure. Total sentence: 5x Infinity years, served consecutively. No chance of parole. Leave your human rights at the door.

    For the cops?...they switch this on before breakfast each morning. Assuming they didn't forget to switch it off the night before.

  4. Re:Everyone should be forced to obey the law. by msauve · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've said this before, but here it is again: Stingrays are transmitters. It is illegal to transmit on cellular frequencies without a license (cellular users transmit under authority of their provider). So, lacking a warrant, police use of Stingrays is illegal. Why are the cops not being prosecuted for violation of federal law, and why isn't any evidence obtained through the use of Stingrays thrown out by the courts?

    (I think the answer the the last one is parallel construction, which itself is legally bankrupt)

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law