(DigitalJournal) As the battle over the notion of warrantless spying rages on Capitol Hill, it was revealed that local police departments are engaging in similar dragnets and refusing to disclose that the technology was used, even to judges during court proceedings.
Local police departments across the country have been using a device known as a “Stingray” to mimic a cell phone tower and trick cell phones in the surrounding area into reporting information such as text messages, call log information, exact locations, and other data. The device receives information from all phones that report to it, not just a specific phone authorized by a search warrant. In the process of using the device for one reason, the police are spying on all citizens in the area.
