Constitutional Paulicy
03-30-2014, 09:32 PM
Why Is Homeland Security Paying to Put Cities Under Surveillance?
Written by Joe Wolverton, II, J.D
Sunday, 30 March 2014 18:30
Next, the headline of a story out of Wisconsin is enough to invoke the ire of constitutionalists in the Badger State: “State cops can track residents' cellphones.”
The story under that headline, from the Fond du Lac Reporter, demonstrates the immense capacity of cops to violate the Fourth Amendment:
Police in Wisconsin have at least two devices that secretly track cellphone locations in real time to target suspects or missing persons — technology that simultaneously mines data from hundreds or thousands of unsuspecting people nearby.
Such sophisticated surveillance equipment doesn’t come cheap. The Reporter writes:
The suitcase-sized Stingray masquerades as a cell tower to trick cellphones into connecting to it. It can show police phones within a mile or more, depending on terrain. Records show the DOJ Stingray cost more than $150,000, and the DOJ and Milwaukee police both purchased upgrade packages that topped $100,000.
In fairness, it’s not just Wisconsin law enforcement using this technology to track citizens. As noted by the Reporter:
An investigation by USA TODAY and Gannett media around the country found at least 25 police departments outside Wisconsin own a Stingray. More than 30 other agencies refused to say whether they own one.
more here... http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/17948-why-is-homeland-security-paying-to-put-cities-under-surveillance
Written by Joe Wolverton, II, J.D
Sunday, 30 March 2014 18:30
Next, the headline of a story out of Wisconsin is enough to invoke the ire of constitutionalists in the Badger State: “State cops can track residents' cellphones.”
The story under that headline, from the Fond du Lac Reporter, demonstrates the immense capacity of cops to violate the Fourth Amendment:
Police in Wisconsin have at least two devices that secretly track cellphone locations in real time to target suspects or missing persons — technology that simultaneously mines data from hundreds or thousands of unsuspecting people nearby.
Such sophisticated surveillance equipment doesn’t come cheap. The Reporter writes:
The suitcase-sized Stingray masquerades as a cell tower to trick cellphones into connecting to it. It can show police phones within a mile or more, depending on terrain. Records show the DOJ Stingray cost more than $150,000, and the DOJ and Milwaukee police both purchased upgrade packages that topped $100,000.
In fairness, it’s not just Wisconsin law enforcement using this technology to track citizens. As noted by the Reporter:
An investigation by USA TODAY and Gannett media around the country found at least 25 police departments outside Wisconsin own a Stingray. More than 30 other agencies refused to say whether they own one.
more here... http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/17948-why-is-homeland-security-paying-to-put-cities-under-surveillance