Category Archives: Cell site simulators

WaPo: FBI surveillance devices may interfere with 911 calls, U.S. senator says

WaPo: FBI surveillance devices may interfere with 911 calls, U.S. senator says by Aaron Gregg: In a letter to the Justice Department, Sen. Ron Wyden raised the concern that Stingray phone surveillance devices could “completely disrupt” cell services, citing conversations … Continue reading

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CA4: Ptf’s 1983 claim a Stingray was used on him survives Heck bar

Plaintiff’s claim that he was the subject of unlawful surveillance with a Stingray survives a Heck challenge and can proceed. Marcantoni v. Bealefeld, 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 22798 (4th Cir. Aug. 16, 2018):

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D.D.C.: Def’s IAC claim a Stingray was used was speculative at best; govt already had plenty from lawful sources

Even if a Stingray was used to get defendant’s information, which is speculative at best, the government lawfully used a host of other information gathering devices and orders to get the same information. Therefore, he wasn’t prejudiced. IAC claim denied. … Continue reading

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N.D.Cal.: Cell-site simulator requires SW; state law doesn’t permit federal officers to execute state SW

(1) The government’s disclaiming a critical fact in the affidavit for search warrant undermines the probable cause vitiating the warrant. (2) “Use of a cell-site simulator requires a warrant. See United States v. Ellis, 270 F. Supp. 3d 1134, 1141-46 … Continue reading

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WaPo: Signs of sophisticated cellphone spying found near White House, U.S. officials say

WaPo: Signs of sophisticated cellphone spying found near White House, U.S. officials say by Craig Timberg:

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US News & World Report: Judge: NYPD Cellphone Tracking Tech to Remain Secret

US News & World Report: Judge: NYPD Cellphone Tracking Tech to Remain Secret by AP: The New York Police Department won’t have to release details about its portable cellphone tracking system commonly known as Stingrays.”

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Wired: DC’s Stingray Mess Won’t Get Cleaned Up

Wired: DC’s Stingray Mess Won’t Get Cleaned Up by Lily Hay Newman:

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InCyberDefense: IMSI Catchers Revive a Heated Debate on Privacy versus Security

InCyberDefense: IMSI Catchers Revive a Heated Debate on Privacy versus Security by Wes O’Donnell. States where used:

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Motherboard: Florida Cop Bought Powerful Phone Malware That Can Intercept Emails and WhatsApp

Motherboard: Florida Cop Bought Powerful Phone Malware That Can Intercept Emails and WhatsApp by Joseph Cox:

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CA11: Def argued there was no authority for use of a cell site simulator to track him; police had a tracking warrant issued on PC, and that’s all that’s required

Defendant was arrested coming out of a Dollar General Store, and officers smelled marijuana around his car. Even though defendant wasn’t in it, the car was still “mobile” for automobile exception purposes, and the smell provided probable cause. Defendant also … Continue reading

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NY Kings Co.: Claim def was Stingrayed was speculative; hearing to be set on CSLI

The same cell phone was used to set up three Craigslist robberies. Defendant’s claim that a cell site simulator was used to track his number is speculative at best and is rejected. He gets a hearing, however, on whether the … Continue reading

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Law & Crime: ‘Dark Side’ Federal Unit Feeds Possibly Illegal Tips to Local Cops, Report Says

Law & Crime: ‘Dark Side’ Federal Unit Feeds Possibly Illegal Tips to Local Cops, Report Says by Aaron Keller The Intercept: Welcome to Law Enforcement’s “Dark Side”: Secret Evidence, Illegal Searches, and Dubious Traffic Stops by Trevor Aaronson: Federal agents … Continue reading

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DE: SW materials reviewed on PCR to find no motion to suppress would be granted

Defendant was charged with rape of his daughter occurring daily for years. Defense counsel saw no reason to file a motion to suppress the search warrants for the house for the vibrator the victim described was used on her. Reviewing … Continue reading

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AP (via ABC): Does cellphone-sweeping ‘StingRay’ technology go too far?

AP (via ABc): Does cellphone-sweeping ‘StingRay’ technology go too far? by Colleen Long:

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BuzzFeed: DHS Has Used A Controversial Cell Phone–Tracking Device More Than 1,800 Times

BuzzFeed: DHS Has Used A Controversial Cell Phone–Tracking Device More Than 1,800 Times by Adolfo Flores: The information, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, shows that Homeland Security Investigations, a major investigative arm of DHS, used what’s known … Continue reading

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NY, Kings Co.: Use of a Stingray violates defendant’s REP in his cell phone

Use of a Stingray violates defendant’s reasonable expectation of privacy in his cell phone. It cannot be compared at all to a pen register. People v. Gordon, 2017 NY Slip Op 27364, 2017 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 4285 (Kings Co. Nov. … Continue reading

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DC: Using Stingray to track a cell phone is a 4A search because it extracts cell phone numbers from phones

The use of a Stingray device by the police to track a cell phone is a search governed by the Fourth Amendment. Stingrays “[f]orce the person’s cellphone to identify itself and reveal its exact location. It is in this sense … Continue reading

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arstechnica: ICE: We don’t use stingrays to locate undocumented immigrants

arstechnica: ICE: We don’t use stingrays to locate undocumented immigrants by Cyrus Farivar: The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency charged with deportations, has confirmed in a new letter that it does not use cell-site … Continue reading

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N.D.Cal.: Use of a Stingray to track a phone is a search requiring a warrant, except in exigent circumstances

Use of a Stingray is a “search” and requires a warrant. The court notes the differing approaches of the courts, but this court has already weighed in in favor of the citizen. “Accordingly, the court determines that a warrant was … Continue reading

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MD: Court order to access def’s location from murder victim’s cell phone by cell site simulator was in good faith

The use of a cell site simulator to find defendant who was suspected of having taken his alleged murder victim’s cell phone was done in objective good faith because officers relied on an order to initiate the tracking. [Since Maryland … Continue reading

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