Sprint has a web portal for law to track you (Schneier)
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:38 am
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2 ... vides.html
(originally from Wired magazine)
"....revealed the existence of a previously undisclosed web portal that Sprint provides law enforcement to conduct automated "pings" to track users. Through the website, authorized agents can type in a mobile phone number and obtain global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the phone." <snip>
"It is unclear if Federal law enforcement agencies' extensive collection of geolocation data should have been disclosed to Congress pursuant to a 1999 law that requires the publication of certain surveillance statistics -- since the Department of Justice simply ignores the law, and has not provided the legally mandated reports to Congress since 2004."
FWIW, this Luddite keeps his cell phone *off* -- defeating the above, despite being a perfectly law-abiding citizen -- except when actually making a call, or having reason to expect to receive one. I realize this may not be practical for many people.
(originally from Wired magazine)
"....revealed the existence of a previously undisclosed web portal that Sprint provides law enforcement to conduct automated "pings" to track users. Through the website, authorized agents can type in a mobile phone number and obtain global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the phone." <snip>
"It is unclear if Federal law enforcement agencies' extensive collection of geolocation data should have been disclosed to Congress pursuant to a 1999 law that requires the publication of certain surveillance statistics -- since the Department of Justice simply ignores the law, and has not provided the legally mandated reports to Congress since 2004."
FWIW, this Luddite keeps his cell phone *off* -- defeating the above, despite being a perfectly law-abiding citizen -- except when actually making a call, or having reason to expect to receive one. I realize this may not be practical for many people.