By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
In the event of a nonspecific threat to a president or someone else under protection, the Secret Service won’t be required to get a warrant to use cellphone-tracking technology, the Associated Press reports.
A House subcommittee learned about the new policy from Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Seth M. Stodder.
The devices, known as Stingrays, have been criticized by civil libertarians and privacy advocates as too intrusive.
The Justice Department introduced a similar policy in September. That policy includes the FBI.
Federal law requires authorities to get a signed warrant from a judge before using Stringrays, but exceptions have been made for “exigent circumstances.”
