While listening to ICYMI #17: Mike Katz-Lacabe – The Center for Human Rights & Privacy courtesy of North Star Post (NSP), the host commented on a possible detection of a stingray device because it was mobile.
The ACLU describes such devices as:
…devices that mimic cell phone towers and send out signals to trick cell phones in the area into transmitting their locations and identifying information. When used to track a suspect’s cell phone, they also gather information about the phones of countless bystanders who happen to be nearby.
…
Do you see anything about “mobile” in that description?
Granting that there are use cases for mobile surveillance devices, where else are you likely to encounter stingrays?
Airports, public transportation: Calls and messages to and from passengers.
Courthouses: Where lawyers, defendants and witnesses may be sending/receiving calls and text messages they would prefer to keep private.
Jails: Calls and text messages by inmates and visitors.
Schools: Calls and texts between students and others.
Other places?
Working on a data set that may help with avoiding mobile or stationary stingrays. More on that next week.