The actual state of the investigation method using 'Stingray' that collects individual identification information and location information of smartphones by pretending to be a mobile phone base station
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As it turns out that the US National Security Agency (NSA) was tracking the current location of 5 billion mobile phones worldwide in one day, information is now being obtained from mobile phones and smartphones in criminal investigations. It has become indispensable. As an example of such investigation, referred to as a masquerade to a base station of a cellular telephone network by emitting strong radio waves, resulting in specific and location information of individuals with almost no notice to the general public 'Stingray (Stingray)' The actual situation of the investigation method using the equipment was clarified.
VICTORY: Judge Releases Information about Police Use of Stingray Cell Phone Trackers | American Civil Liberties Union
https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security-technology-and-liberty/victory-judge-releases-information-about-police-use
This was revealed by a court in Florida, USA, which ordered the disclosure of a court record that was once closed. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an organization aimed at protecting freedom of speech in the United States, sought disclosure, and disputed information that was once kept private based on the intention of the United States government. Will be published by.
The ACLU confirmed in an investigation conducted by police in Tallahassee, Florida a few months ago that 'Stingray' was used despite no warrant. Investigators testified to the use of 'Stingray' in the case's trial, but the court kept the deliberations private and kept the documents confidential in response to a request from the federal government.
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The ACLU has launched an urgent motion to disclose information under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. In response, the U.S. government insisted on the legitimacy of non-disclosure of information based on the National Security Law enacted under the Bush administration in 2002, but ACLU said, 'This case is against a state-level decision. Because it is a thing, the provisions of the law do not apply. '
As a result, the court decided to order the publication of the documents. The contents of the investigation were clarified by the released documents, and the actual usage and actual conditions of the following 'Stingray' were clarified.
-'Stingray' impersonates a mobile phone base station and allows all terminals within range to be registered in the network. Then, instead of the original base station, the position information and individual identification information of each terminal are collected.
-'Stingray' can start tracking not only when each terminal makes a call, but also from the moment the power is turned on.
-'Stingray' can force each terminal to communicate with 'Stingray' at full power, so battery consumption will be faster. If the consumption speed is high, it is possible that the police are using 'Stingray'.
-At the time of actual use, all terminals within the area are evaluated. Therefore, the same investigation will be carried out for unrelated residents other than the person to be investigated.
-In this case, two types of 'Stingray' are used: an in-vehicle type mounted on a police vehicle and a portable type that can be carried by hand. In the investigation, police officers first get on a police vehicle and go around the area to narrow down the residences where the suspects live. The portable 'Stingray' is then used to conduct an investigation in front of the doors of all dwellings in the suspected area to determine which room the suspect lives in. This means that 'the police are irradiating the residents' residences with radio waves from outside the windows to extract information about the people who live inside.'
Tallahassee's detective, who stood in testimony, revealed that a similar technique was used more than 200 times between the spring of 2007 and August 2010.
The ACLU pointed out that the case law ordering this information disclosure has no basis for the government's non-disclosure of the investigation method using 'Stingray.' At the same time, the US government has no basis to interfere with the release of state government official records.
It has become clear that the use of mobile phone mechanisms allows individual behavior to be tracked at levels that were previously unthinkable, but the conflict between public and personal interests will continue. It seems to continue.
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