BuzzFeed News reports that Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Ted Lieu of the Democratic Party will introduce a new bill today aimed at limiting the police’s use of IMSI catchers, more commonly known as Stingrays. The technology is frequently used by law enforcement agencies to collect data on suspects and intercept calls, text messages, and other forms of communication without a warrant. The proposed legislation, called the Cell-Site Simulator Act of 2021, will seek to change this practice by requiring the police to obtain a warrant before using Stingrays. This move is seen as a significant reform in safeguarding individuals’ privacy rights and preventing arbitrary surveillance by authorities.

IMSI catchers are a tool used to monitor and track mobile phones in a clandestine manner. They work by pretending to be a cell tower, and trick phones into connecting to them. Once connected, the IMSI catcher can gather data from the phone, such as its location and subscriber identity key.

However, IMSI catchers pose a serious threat to privacy and public safety. The devices can collect data not only from the targeted phone, but also from nearby bystanders. Additionally, as the IMSI catcher does not function as a real cell tower, it cannot transfer calls to a public wireless network. In emergency situations, this can prevent a phone from connecting to 9-1-1.

Despite these issues, IMSI catchers are widely used by law enforcement agencies. In fact, in 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union found that at least 75 agencies in 27 states and the District of Columbia owned IMSI catchers. This highlights the need for regulation and oversight of the use of such devices to ensure the protection of privacy rights and public safety.

With the rise of advanced technology, the use of invasive surveillance devices has become a serious concern for many citizens in the United States. In response to these concerns, a new bill has been proposed that would require law enforcement agencies to seek permission from a judge before using an IMSI catcher device. The legislation aims to bring transparency and clear rules to the use of these devices, ensuring that they are only used when necessary and in the most effective way possible.

Under the proposed legislation, law enforcement agencies would need to provide a clear case for why they need to use the technology and demonstrate why other methods would not be as effective. The bill would also require the agencies to delete any data that they collect from individuals who are not listed on a warrant. While the legislation does not include a specific time limit on the use of IMSI catcher devices, it encourages agencies to use the technology for the shortest time possible. Additionally, the bill outlines exceptions where law enforcement could use the devices without a warrant, such as in situations involving bomb threats where an IMSI catcher could prevent a remote detonation.

The proposed legislation has gained bipartisan support, with Republicans such as Senator Steve Daines of Montana and Representative Tom McClintock of California co-sponsoring the bill. Organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Electronic Privacy Information Center have also endorsed the bill, recognizing it as a positive step towards protecting citizen privacy in the age of advanced technology. Overall, this legislation seeks to bring clarity and accountability to the use of IMSI catcher devices by law enforcement agencies and ensure that citizens’ privacy rights are respected.