We are the groups that filed an FCC complaint yesterday against the Baltimore Police Department for breaking the law by using Stingray phone trackers without a license. Ask Us Anything!!

You mention in the article that "Investigators have been concealing the technology from judges and defense lawyers and after the revelations Maryland's second highest court ruled that police should get a warrant before using a Stingray."

Isn't it kind of illegal, or really illegal, to withhold evidence? What are the repercussions?

Yes, this is a really interesting problem. We've heard that in some cases, some prosecutors, knowing that the police used a cell site simulator without proper authorization, or believing that they cannot reveal information about the CS simulator due to a non-disclosure agreement they've signed with the FBI, have engaged in a practice known as "parallel construction." In parallel construction, law enforcement and prosecutors may make misrepresentations about how they arrived at certain evidence or certain conclusions, such as by claiming that they received facts from a confidential informant.

The primary repercussions are losses in criminal cases, or the overturning of cases that have been successfully prosecuted. When it turns out that law enforcement obtained evidence improperly, or made misrepresentations regarding that evidence, cases get overturned.

As mentioned by Laura, local law enforcement usually has to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the FBI agreeing not to publicly discuss Stingray use. In an article last year, the FBI claimed that the agreements apparently do not prevent officers from disclosing a Stingray's use in a court case, but that's not what the agreements actually say.

Hi guys! Has there been any response from the wireless industry on this?

We have not heard anything from the wireless industry. We would expect that they would care about the unlawful use of their wireless spectrum. They cared in previous circumstances, such as cell signal boosters.

Are you aware of other cities doing this as well? I know in Charlotte, NC there were reports of Police Departments using Stingrays as well.

Yes. This is an extremely far-reaching problem. BPD appears to be among the worst (or perhaps the very worst) state or local police department in terms of how heavily they rely on these things (with no transparency/accountability to the public they are pledged to serve), and in terms of how clear it is that they conduct themselves in a way that is racially biased against African Americans.

But many other law enforcement agencies around the country also have and use the devices. And we don't know what we don't know—there could be far more than we have public information about.

ACLU has a helpful interactive map of LE agencies known to have cell site simulators: https://www.aclu.org/map/stingray-tracking-devices-whos-got-them

Regarding the secrecy of Stingrays, police departments often have to sign non-disclosure agreements regarding the technology, preventing public discussion. Baltimore has such an NDA.

What has been the BPD or the FCC's response to the article and to the complaint?

Thanks for the question. The BPD has so far refused to comment. The FCC responded in this article, but we have not heard a more thorough response actually explaining why this is not a blatant violation of law and FCC rules.

Considering how much control the government seem to have of our lives, do you think the technology exists for analyzing brainwaves and reading someones mind? And do you think wearing a tinfoil hat might prevent the government from doing just that?

I'm pretty sure chemtrails already exist. I suggest not going outside when a plane is overhead.

What can regular citizens do if they are concerned about this type of thing?

There are a couple of things to do. The easiest is that you can sign the petitions or engage with your local government to ask for better transparency on police tech in general. There also seem to be many city council meetings coming up on stingray use. The biggest thing you can do is show that you care about it and are concerned.

Who decides to put up the stingray towers in the first place? Is it the police or the city or who?

Stingrays are mobile, so although they mimic a tower, they're not stationary like a tower. In most cases they're installed into some sort of vehicle so that it can be deployed to any location.

So like someone is in a van? You mean every time I see someone's WiFI that says "FBI Surveillance Van 1" it's a stingray device? NOOOOO

I think "FBI Surveillance Van 1" is fine, that's probably just your clever neighbor. I'd watch out for "FBI Surveillance Van 2" or "FBI Surveillance Van 3."

To lighten the mood (and because I need good recommendations), I have to ask what are your favorite TV series?

And of course Stranger Things