The Stingray: How Law Enforcement Can Track Your Every Move

The Stingray: How Law Enforcement Can Track Your Every Move

RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) — You could be just about anywhere and data on your cell phone can be scooped up by law enforcement without your ever knowing. It happens all the time.

The device that makes it possible is called a “cell site simulator.” That’s the generic name; Stingray is the most common brand name.

Initially developed for military use, Stingrays have made their way into local police and sheriff’s departments around the country. Months ago, the I-Team sent open records requests to every law enforcement agency in our viewing area and learned that three agencies close to home have been using cell site simulators: the Wake County Sheriff’s Department, Durham Police Department, and Raleigh Police Department. A spokesperson for RPD told the I-Team they stopped using theirs when the software needed to be upgraded.

The ACLU’s Mike Meno has been watching Stingrays spread into local law enforcement for years.

“Like a lot of militarized technology and surveillance technology, this is something that was developed overseas and it was developed for one use, but then it comes back home and is used against our own citizens. It’s used here in the States. And the government will say, ‘We need to keep this confidential,’ but we have constitutional rights. We’re supposed to have checks and balances,” he said.

http://abc11.com/1968769/

50 Comments

  1. Nate T on December 31, 2021 at 1:07 pm

    Police really should go back to good old fashion investigating skills. They need to get out and know members of their community. This is for lazy Police.

  2. Dracing19 on December 31, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    There’s a way to avoid these trust me and it’s very easy look on YouTube lots of ways so this dont happen to you

  3. jay griff on December 31, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    That cop said what every cop thinks…..as long as I feel personally justified then I don’t care what anyone else thinks. They do not care about the constitution.

  4. Clein Olanio on December 31, 2021 at 1:10 pm

    Why do Philippines don’t have this I got my phone stolen here in Philippines but police said to me that they are not capable of tracking my IMEI

  5. SPIRITUAL RANT on December 31, 2021 at 1:11 pm

    JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK PEOPLE REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR TODAY NOT TOMORROW PEOPLE WHICH IS PROMISED TO NOONE AT ALL

  6. NA on December 31, 2021 at 1:11 pm

    Awesome! The criminals always think they are smarter than the victim and the FBI

  7. XPWorldTeam on December 31, 2021 at 1:12 pm

    When police departments refuse to talk about using the technology it creates a sense of distrust and that they’re up to something that violates our rights but when they’re transparent with people and how and why they use the technology, as the officer did in the video, all those those doubts and misunderstandings go out the window.

    You don’t have to say everything you’re doing but just let people feel that you’re doing the right thing and not violating people’s rights.

  8. Qanon John on December 31, 2021 at 1:13 pm

    Sims card out

  9. Renee S on December 31, 2021 at 1:13 pm

    If it’s use is legal why the secrecy?

  10. This Bushnell on December 31, 2021 at 1:13 pm

    "We always get a warrant." RRRIIIIIGGHHT🙄

  11. Armchair Mantracker on December 31, 2021 at 1:17 pm

    There’s no such thing as "innocent people".
    We’re all suspected terrorists and we have no rights anymore.

  12. Bob Saget on December 31, 2021 at 1:20 pm

    Law enforcement Has become entwined with organized criminals of the Cartels it is why kidnapping, stalking, physical harassment, monitoring, enslavement and homicide is now LEGAL to even address them as law enforcement brings Shame upon all that was once known as constitutional in America as America remains a growing shameful World wide Joke.

  13. Ricky Severns on December 31, 2021 at 1:24 pm

    It’s invasion of privacy

  14. UPPERHAND7576 on December 31, 2021 at 1:27 pm

    AND THEN 5G DARPA WAVES SICKENING THOSE IN PROXIMITY!

  15. J L on December 31, 2021 at 1:27 pm

    There is a little gooey black object inside the back of your phone.if you remove this strange thing your phone will not work", Dont believe me? Look for your self

  16. yomommaisac-i-slizut on December 31, 2021 at 1:28 pm

    Funny when peasants do this to illegally retrieve people’s data and messages its called hacking and extremely illegal and worthy of jail time.

    When the government does this to illegally retrieve your data, messages, and where abouts. It’s for you’re own good and safety and completely legal for them to do it because they make the rules and they don’t have to follow them as long ad they say it’s for your own good or the safety of the people.

    How quickly people forget about the Patriot act. That was for our own good and safety as well and the government only used it for finding "terrorists".

  17. Aaron Schmidt on December 31, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    The eye of providence is foreign surveillance nanotechnology. It’s embedded into our heads.

  18. Robert Quinlan on December 31, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    Great technology only a criminal should really be in fear of it

  19. jorge murray on December 31, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    What happens if you hot a vpn xd

  20. Cindy Jefferson on December 31, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    Someone just asked me for my number couple days ago online; his girlfriend from GreasyLand probably ask me

  21. Ronnie Rose on December 31, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    They use them illegally all of the time!!

  22. Lifer777 Death on December 31, 2021 at 1:33 pm

    STINGRAY

  23. Rob Miller on December 31, 2021 at 1:34 pm

    like the tracker the sheriff’s use in the rando points. with babtists gang stalkers. because their need to "finish the dame job".

  24. Mirza Ghalib on December 31, 2021 at 1:37 pm

    would a VPN counteract this nightmare?

  25. Boom 192 on December 31, 2021 at 1:38 pm

    The Supreme Court has ruled that it’s not the responsibility of the police to keep citizens safe.

  26. Kyle Thornton on December 31, 2021 at 1:38 pm

    Awakening down below 👇🏿. It’s already working. And it’s working great. That’s all I can say now but it’s excellent

  27. Go2Girl Productions on December 31, 2021 at 1:38 pm

    So if you don’t own a cell phone then what? Also or if you have a cell phone that has a removable battery then what? A lot of people are moving back to flip phones because of this reason. You can’t tell me it’s not used to stalk or harass people.

  28. Lil ray on December 31, 2021 at 1:39 pm

    This is exactly why I don’t believe in "coincidences"!!! This just proves me right that nothing "Just So Happens" someone’s always watching you 👀

  29. SuaveDaGamer ! on December 31, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    Why not use this for missing people? Oh … 🤨

  30. Lul j on December 31, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    My face while watching this 😯

  31. Xl DEAD SNIPER lX on December 31, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    VPN remove the gps from your phone lol not to hard apple is very secure very hard for officers to do anything since unlike android iPhones belong to apple and they have full control over your phone

  32. Johnny Trapantino on December 31, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    When a Police Chief says "I dont care what people say.." You know you need a new Chief.

  33. Guilherme sampaio de oliveira on December 31, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    It can be detected though an analysis of latency.

  34. ben gagliardo on December 31, 2021 at 1:44 pm

    be more worried that every thing you’re done in your life good or bad will be known to God on judgment day.. you can sue the police or the FBI. your on your own with God.. unless you have an advocate. i do his name is Jesus.. thankyou Jesus..

  35. 48Cole48 on December 31, 2021 at 1:45 pm

    so if im closer to a cell tower than I am close to their truck…than im fine?

  36. Jose Pena on December 31, 2021 at 1:45 pm

    This is illegal!

  37. Linda Burton on December 31, 2021 at 1:47 pm

    Ok and………

  38. scaramooch E on December 31, 2021 at 1:47 pm

    This along with a listening device or phone cuppler is happening to me. They are torturing me. I have a major stalker but couldn’t file with lmpd 7th division and Jeffersontown pd for not having a name

  39. Allennia Case on December 31, 2021 at 1:49 pm

    The fact that average people can use this should be illegal and is a complete invasion of privacy

  40. Tom Jeffery on December 31, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    Tacoma PD has One

  41. Sky Portal Music on December 31, 2021 at 1:51 pm

    Jesus Loves You

  42. Mystery Man on December 31, 2021 at 1:52 pm

    Violation of the 4th Amendment—- The right to be secure in your Person’s, Houses, Papers, & Effects.

  43. W.E.S. Wesley entertainment studios on December 31, 2021 at 1:53 pm

    If its gps good luck I fly drones that work off gps and just going under a bridge loses exact signal…they need 4g wifi even if u got it cut off it’ll still pick it up from a room or survalnce van states away pinpoint

  44. Blasko xx on December 31, 2021 at 1:58 pm

    I bet I can make one – just need a stronger (free) signal than anyone else in the block.

  45. Eric Burrough on December 31, 2021 at 1:58 pm

    I have the same white cars with tinted windows following me. Guys wear florescent shirts and also see RV’s parked by me all the time with tinted windows. In truckee, Reno. This started about five years ago. Couple guys are in military and have placed a camera in my families homes and in my car. They have already rumors at my job etc.

  46. Guilherme sampaio de oliveira on December 31, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    Unnaceptable.

  47. James Behrje on December 31, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    [‘Facebook’ walks into the room] "So what’s going on in the world today?"

  48. Michael The Mad Soldiertist on December 31, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    No sheriff your job is primarily to uphold the constitution and the rights and welfare of the people after that. You are an elected official who answers to the people violating their rights is a betrayal of that duty

  49. Nimmy 🇵🇰 on December 31, 2021 at 2:03 pm

    To all those thick nokia drug dealers

  50. Greg Widener on December 31, 2021 at 2:05 pm

    We need to spend a lot Moore time worrying about thease nut jobs we give jobs in law Enforcement

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