By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
The FBI maintains it does not need a warrant to intercept cell phone devices in public, according to a letter written by Senate leaders, Gizmodo reports.
The bureau said it does not plan to get search warrants to intercept mobile devices in public. The interception devices, which include Stringrays, quickly extract data using cell towers as a decoy.
Gizmodo wrote:
“Stingrays, dirtboxes, and other surveillance tools help law enforcement catch criminals. That’s true. To do so, the decoys grab information from lots of innocent people by tricking their phones into sending data to the FBI before they can pinpoint a suspect. This is a substantial and wide-ranging intrusion, which is why the policy to forgo warrants is raising concerns.”
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, requested information after reading disturbing reports about other surveillance techniques.
