Secret Warrants Granted for Cellphone Tracking »
Posted By Beau7890 1 year, 7 months ago in Science & TechnologyFederal officials are routinely asking courts to order cellphone companies to furnish real-time tracking data so they can pinpoint the whereabouts of drug traffickers, fugitives and other criminal suspects, according to judges and industry lawyers. Such requests run counter to the Justice Department's internal recommendation.
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Aidenag1 year, 7 months ago
This is exactly what people warned about happening due to the Bush administration's lax views on constitutional rights following 9/11 and the patriot act.
First it was just the 'terrorists' who's rights we took away. Now its petty crimes, drug users and dealers, and as the article mentions, pretty much anyone they please with or without probable cause.
What's next?
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earthlingerer1 year, 7 months ago
This is only one of those newfangled American "Writs of Assistance."
But if we can get every anglo-saxon grandma who's been talking subversively, you know it's got every idiot's OK.
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joeblowe1 year, 7 months ago
Please notice THIS: According to this article, the FBI et al ARE going to the courts to get warrants as required by the Constitution. That's an improvement. Now, if the judges are not requiring the probable cause that is ALSO required by the constitution, that's yet another area the Supreme Court needs to address and get under control.
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tkyrchncs1 year, 7 months ago
The GPS locator can be turned off on many cell phones, and on mine it automatically cuts back on if you dial 911. The tower search does not operate if the phone is off. Complain to the judiciary if you are aware that they are not requiring CONCRETE, SPECIFIC information under probable cause, and find out if your cell phone carrier supplies information to law enforcement without a warrant.
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walden31 year, 7 months ago
This is further proof of the continual desensitization of Americans to the government's degradation of our core set of values. Our core values aren't about who gets to marry who. It's about our constitutional rights. Without Americans continuously striving to protect our bill of rights we are only as free as our government allows us to be.
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ecotourusa1 year, 7 months ago
walden-
you may not agree with me, but, much of this is happening as a result of globalization and the encouraged "invasion" of illegal immigrants.
And, according to our constitution, the invasion is an act of war.
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CORVIDIVS1 year, 7 months ago
THE REAL BOGUS ABOUT ALL THIS is any joe terrorist,or target worth his salt has seen this story.It's easy as all hey to take someone's phone for a 'joyride',and then the supposed good guys are back to square one(1)... and ripping off someone's phone may indicate his/her life as well...
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AmericanIdiot1 year, 7 months ago
Government and police don't need chips to track our movements. Every cellphone has a GPS signal that goes out whenever the phone is turned on or off. Fairly accurate, so they say. They caught a murderer in New York City that way last year.
Oh, but I repeat myself.
Wait, it gets better. There is no need for a warrant or any probable cause for police to obtain cellphone records and locational data. All cellphone providers in the USA have signed contracts with the FCC, promising to allow real-time data flows of customer records.
They don't need to be subpoenad, because they have already agreed to provide the information.
In other words, the Feds are listening to potentially any call, for any reason, at any time, and they don't need to ask permission. It is inadmissable evidence, of course, but the cops usually find something better in the course of their searches and interrogations.
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TheVisionary1 year, 7 months ago
This is just...frightening. I mean really frightening AmericanIdiot. I don't know how to respond to this honestly. I knew the government had to do very little to obtain our records but this is just... Is this what this country has become?
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earthlingerer1 year, 7 months ago
"Government and police don't need chips to track our movements. Every cellphone has a GPS signal that goes out whenever the phone is turned on or off. Fairly accurate, so they say. They caught a murderer in New York City that way last year."
Umm, ever thought about turning OFF that GPRS selection on your phone? I did. I also use an anonymous SIM card from a local carrier.
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AmericanIdiot1 year, 7 months ago
Murder solved using cellphone records as forensic evidence:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/24/nyregion/24de...
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AmericanIdiot1 year, 7 months ago
HOUSE STANDS BY PATRIOT ACT, BARELY
Efforts to overturn portions of the USA PATRIOT Act were rejected by
the U.S. House of Representatives this week, as lawmakers responded to
a veto threat from the White House. One portion of the PATRIOT Act
lowers the bar for federal officials to obtain records from libraries
and book stores about the habits of their patrons. Civil libertarians
and many in Congress have taken issue with those powers of the law,
calling them unconstitutional, and Reps. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) and
C.L. Butch Otter (R-Idaho) had led the push to repeal those powers.
Even without the PATRIOT Act, said critics, investigators can obtain
similar records from libraries or book stores if probable cause is
shown.
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saintetienne1 year, 7 months ago
"First it was just the 'terrorists' who's rights we took away. Now its petty crimes, drug users and dealers, and as the article mentions, pretty much anyone they please with or without probable cause."
Yes, aidenag, I agree. We wouldn't want to strip drug traffikers, fugitives, criminal suspects and illegal immigrants of their God-given right to break laws, kill people and take advantage of all of the rights and benefits afforded to the hard-working, law-abiding taxpayer.
This federal practice is a travesty! Guarantee laws, rights and priviliges to the criminal element, I say! Let them run wild and do whatever they want, without pesky government interference or cell-phone tracking, I say! They should be allowed to break laws, demean society and harm people without having their rights violated, I say!
You Liberals are nuttier than a fruitcake.
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mntnman4441 year, 7 months ago
And you cowards who are hiding under your beds and willing to give up everyones rights are more dangerous than the terrorists you're hiding from.
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Beau78901 year, 7 months ago
When they come for you, saintetienne, anyone who might have wanted to protect you will all be gone, laughed at by others like you.
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flyonthewallzz1 year, 7 months ago
saintetienne: Perhaps you have lived a life beyond reproach and have nothing to hide.
Can you say the same for your immediate family?
Are you confident that those you admire will look as good under the spotlight?
We done good with the restrictions placed on those that police us.
As a matter of fact ours is the oldest form of government in existence.
I thought a conservative by definition did not make changes and "held" the values that worked.
I like fruit cake.
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Beau78901 year, 7 months ago
LOL. Not sure what they don't like about the story--the article itself makes no value judgments. But that's okay. I'm keeping tabs on their locations...
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earthlingerer1 year, 7 months ago
I've PROGRAMMED my location... see you in Tunisia where they filmed Star Wars!
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AmericanIdiot1 year, 7 months ago
An object in motion tends to stay in motion, unless met with by an equal and opposite force.
- Sir Isaac Newton.
This country has become what we have allowed it to become. We give them permission for all these evils, by going along, by not opposing, their efforts to gather all power in the hands of a priveliged elite caste. The solution is there before you. Do what you will with it.
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nikkibabe1 year, 7 months ago
Your "free" country is doomed. You will be like another Soviet Bloc country during the communist regime.
Welcome back to the Bulganin era Yankees.
I wonder if you still sing the star sprangled banner, does it have meaning anymore under the current CEO you have in the White House.
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1-2-Oscar1 year, 7 months ago
The law enforcement agencies want to use a readily available tool to track "drug traffickers, fugitives and other criminal suspects." It is startling to see how many oppose that sort of activity by the law enforcement people. Yet no one actually says that they support the "drug traffickers, fugitives and other criminal suspects."
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flyonthewallzz1 year, 7 months ago
Tools as described by Buckminster Fuller are extensions of the hand.
Law enforcement is made up of regular folks.
Regular folks who, more than often see the worst of us.
Is it possible that their judgment may be tempered.
I used to disable the safety features on my machines.
I have learned that they do not really slow me down I was just too lazy to work with them.
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Beau78901 year, 7 months ago
Oscar, the reason no one says he supports the drug traffickers, etc., is because those criminals do not represent the biggest danger here.
Do you really see no problem in giving law enforcement tools to track the locations of anyone they ever suspect? Most turn out to be innocent--yet they can be spied upon by any number of law enforcement agencies. I'm sure you've heard stories of police officers stalking and intimidating exes or harrassing enemies, using the tools at their disposal.
Is catching a few drug trafickers, fugitives, and other criminal suspects--something that can be done successfully using other means--so much of a priority for you that you're willing to give up privacy to the secret judgment of authorities?
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baddad59Comment removed: User banned.
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CORVIDIVS1 year, 7 months ago
... i haven't read all the posts,but it's a football thingy,isn't it,if the feds really aren't beholden to ask.it's the stated intention in a way of business as usual,and sort of a setting of precedent in a madisonish sort of way.once again the research is probably a fait accompli with just formalities,an apology,especially after the breech has been worn well in,the pair of shoes having trodden down this trail more than we should like to wonder.yup.a spin doctor thingy to make sure we are acclimatized;not unlike a salesman closing that final door.buttoning down a contract.we won't then be able to say they didn't WARN us...
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Justice4All1 year, 7 months ago
It sounds like a great way to track criminals, but the reality is that anyone with the proper connections in government can track anyone. Spouses, girlfriends etc. Many people in the cellphone companies can do the same.
Most people think they can only be tracked if they make a call. But they can be tracked anytime the phone is on and connected to a network.
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CORVIDIVS1 year, 7 months ago
I WOULDS JUST BE LIKEN TA SAY,NOW,CLEM... THESE HERE BUSHY TYPES BIN AROUND TRYNA PUT THEIR BE FINGGER INNIT SINCE CAVEMAN,AN NO MADDER HOWIN' YA DRESS THEM GALOOTS UP,THEY ALWAYS LIKE FLIES TA YOU NO WHAT IN TH' HALLS O' POWER,ANITT'S ABOUT DURNED TYME WE TERNED THE TAP WAAYYY OFFF...
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mntnman4441 year, 7 months ago
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons,houses,papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause..."
And what part of this says..."the right of the govt to listen to the peoples conversations without probable cause to believe they are committing a crime shall not be infringed by a bunch of "liberals".???
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anioklyComment removed: User banned.
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mntnman4441 year, 7 months ago
I remember my dad telling me about when social security was enacted.He said that the country was so opposed to the govt issuing a social security number to every citizen that the president had to make a special radio address assuring citizens that the number would ONLY be used for social security and was not the govt giving citizens a number as a way to track them.Now you need that number for everything.But back then ,the constitution meant something to Americans,preserving it was the American thing to do.
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