aGameOfThrones
07-26-2014, 10:57 PM
Vincent Desjardins
The Supreme Court of Wisconsin has upheld the warrantless use of cell phone tracking devices, better known as "stingrays.” In a narrow decision published on Thursday, the court found that while the Milwaukee police did not specifically have a warrant to use the stingray to locate a murder suspect, it did have a related judicial order that essentially served the same purpose.
This 2009 murder case is one of the rare, high-level court decisions that directly speaks to the legality of the use of stingrays, which are often used to track suspects’ phones and, in some cases, intercept calls and text messages. However, stingrays also capture related information on all other cell phone users who happen to be in physical proximity to the target.
The court order specifically approved “the installation and use of a trap and trace device or process,” and "the installation and use of a pen register device/process," and “the release of subscriber information, incoming and outgoing call detail…and authorizing the identification of the physical location of a target cellular phone.”
Earlier this year, Wisconsin passed a new law that specifically requires a probable cause warrant in order to track someone’s phone. That law was not in effect at the time of the 2009 murder.
Continued: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/07/court-allows-use-of-stingray-cell-tracking-device-in-murder-case/
The Supreme Court of Wisconsin has upheld the warrantless use of cell phone tracking devices, better known as "stingrays.” In a narrow decision published on Thursday, the court found that while the Milwaukee police did not specifically have a warrant to use the stingray to locate a murder suspect, it did have a related judicial order that essentially served the same purpose.
This 2009 murder case is one of the rare, high-level court decisions that directly speaks to the legality of the use of stingrays, which are often used to track suspects’ phones and, in some cases, intercept calls and text messages. However, stingrays also capture related information on all other cell phone users who happen to be in physical proximity to the target.
The court order specifically approved “the installation and use of a trap and trace device or process,” and "the installation and use of a pen register device/process," and “the release of subscriber information, incoming and outgoing call detail…and authorizing the identification of the physical location of a target cellular phone.”
Earlier this year, Wisconsin passed a new law that specifically requires a probable cause warrant in order to track someone’s phone. That law was not in effect at the time of the 2009 murder.
Continued: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/07/court-allows-use-of-stingray-cell-tracking-device-in-murder-case/