Judge Restricts Cell Phone Surveillance

An Illinois federal judge issued three new stringent requirements the government must meet before deploying cell-site simulators or stingrays, which can determine cell phone locations and intercept calls and text messages. U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain Johnston said the new rules were to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of innocent bystanders against unreasonable search and seizure. Under the requirements, the government must obtain a warrant, and to not use stingrays when “an inordinate number of innocent third parties’ information would be collected,” such as near a sporting event.