Posted
12/11/2005 02:44:00 PM
by Douglas
Here's one for the
tin-foil hat brigade. Why do we need to implant tracking devices on people when everyone is already voluntarily
carrying one?In recent years, law enforcement officials have turned to cellular technology as a tool for easily and secretly monitoring the movements of suspects as they occur. But this kind of surveillance - which investigators have been able to conduct with easily obtained court orders - has now come under tougher legal scrutiny.
In the last four months, three federal judges have denied prosecutors the right to get cellphone tracking information from wireless companies without first showing "probable cause" to believe that a crime has been or is being committed. That is the same standard applied to requests for search warrants.
Not really surprising that the information is available, but pretty scary in how readily available the information is to those that might misuse it. But the police don't make mistakes, do they?