Should The Feds Need A Warrant To Find Out Where Your Mobile Phone Is?
from the seems-reasonable dept
A couple months ago, we wrote about Julian Sanchez's realization (due to odd choices in gov't agencies redacting already publicly available info) that it appeared the government was likely regularly getting location info from mobile phone providers on users, using a much lower standard, without much oversight. In a somewhat related case, a court is now trying to determine if the location info on your mobile phone requires a warrant. The federal government is saying, no, claiming that Americans have no expectation of privacy as to where their phone is (even though that's likely where they are as well).That seems like a very troubling bit of reasoning -- but no surprise from a federal government, that for years, has been stretching its ability to secretly spy on Americans. Hopefully the court shuts this down, but just the fact that the government would defend such a blatant overreach is troubling enough.
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New administration, same abuse of power. Sigh...
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Um, this American does...
Another slippery slope.
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Re:
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They don't now
So why would they need one to get just your location?
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Re: They don't now
1) They can *ask* friends, family, and employers, but generally speaking, those people are not compelled to answer.
2) Nobody's saying authorities need a warrant to know someone's location. People are saying that they need a warrant to compel a phone company to turn over that data.
3) Your link is specifically about pen registers, or lists of phone calls made and received. Location is not a pen register. That case has no relevance here.
4) You can't say it's OK to use location data without a warrant to locate someone, but that they need a warrant to use that legally-obtained data as evidence. What, are they supposed to go to the judge and say "we've got this info, and we used it to arrest the guy, but now that we're bringing him to trial, we need you to issue a warrant for the info we already have and used"? That makes no sense at all.
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Re: Re: They don't now
> speaking, those people are not compelled to answer.
No, but they better be careful if they do answer, at least when the feds are involved. Anything other than the truth is a federal felony.
That's how the got Martha Stewart. She didn't go to prison for insider trading. She went for lying to a federal agent.
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Re: Re: They don't now
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People
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The
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Interesting Conudrum
But at a deeper level, I would say "reading" the data would require a warrant. I acknowledge that these are very fine distinctions.
But what I find really troubling, we get all upset and work ourselves up to a frenzied lather when the Government does this. But few raise this concern when private industry does the same.
Private industry is doing this all the time and is seeking ever greater authority to spy on US citizens. Internet "filtering" ring a bell?????? The Anti-Mike even posted that complying with "due process" was an impediment when it comes to piracy.
If we expect the government to acquire warrants to read your content as part of a crime investigation; then private industry must also be required to follow due process.
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Re: Interesting Conudrum
> content as part of a crime investigation; then private industry
> must also be required to follow due process.
Unfortunately the Constitution only restricts what the government can do. Private entities are not covered by the 4th Amendment.
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Re: Re: Interesting Conudrum
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If everyone in an industry is following the same onerous business practices, "choice" is a farce.
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Re: Interesting Conudrum
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1. the cellphones do not really turn off
2. battery removal is a felony
3. you are required to have a cellphone
4. they just implant a device
5. civilation collapses
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Telcos
Yet apparently there's all these other federal agents out there who seem to be able to get a telco to do everything but their laundry merely be asking.
Damn...
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Re: Telcos
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Depends on the Situation
1) A missing person's report has been filed by the person's friends/family
2) A warrant has been obtained. I'm fine with this being a warrant for arrest or just the to find their location
Otherwise, no dice
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Re: Depends on the Situation
1) A missing person's report has been filed by the person's friends/family
2) A warrant has been obtained. I'm fine with this being a warrant for arrest or just the to find their location"
1. The paperwork better have statement and opt-in for electronic tracking, and the same people can opt out at any time. As well as a limitation that the info can only be used for the search and rescue and nothing more. It cannot be a blanket authorization that never expires.
1. The warrant has to be obtained and has to have language that applies directly to the use of electronic means to locate the person. It too cannot be a blanket order. It has to have limitations that prevent them form having lifetime access to the info.
I am of the opinion that the government needs to have permission to wipe their ass. They have been failing us for over 100 years, and need to be brought back under control. We need to make them accountable for everything they do. Congressman xyz wants a steak dinner at the taxpayer expense... approve or deny. Every doller spent should be accounted for by the people, not a select group of people that do not have our interests at heart.
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Re: Depends on the Situation
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Re: Depends on the Situation
If I was to go hiking the Appalachian trail, and I go missing for a weekend, a week, or longer, what gives my friends the right to sic the government on me to find me?
The only people who have the right to hunt me down electronically are those people who can prove the likelihood that some sort of crime or injury or problem may have happened.
It should take a long time, and evidence of a crime, before the government can infringe on my rights.
Consider if I've got a husband who has been beating the crap out of me, I don't want my local police department telling him where I am.
Using a cell phone does not mean I give up my right to be alone.
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Can I do that?
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Tracing mobiles
trace mobiles
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What Can I Do in Order to Obtain Student Aid?
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Cell phone spy software
Does everyone know that anyone can download software online (Legally) and then you can take that software and install it on a cell phone. This software will track your mobile phone location. Cell phone location tracking software is becoming very popular.
Take a look at this video. You will find out all about cell phone location tracking.
http://www.cellphonelocationtracking.com
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if you don't want to be tracked, turn off your cell phone.
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