IN THIS SECTION
What are Stingrays Alaska New Mexico ACLU on Stingrays ACLU Lawsuit against ICE
WHAT ARE STINGRAYS - CELL SITE SIMULATORS
Stingrays, also known as "cell site simulators" or "IMSI catchers," are invasive cell phone surveillance devices that
mimic cell phone towers and send out signals to trick cell phones in the area into transmitting their locations and
identifying information.
https //www aclu org/issues/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/stingray-tracking-devices-whos-got-them
Wikipedia
The use of Stingrays by United States law enforcement is an investigative technique used by both federal and local
law enforcement in the United States to obtain information from cell phones by mimicking a cell phone tower.
Stingray use in United States law enforcement - Wikipedia
Alaska
2016/09/16 Anchorage police give details on cellphone surveillance after ACLU records request. By David Kelly.
https //www adn com/alaska-news/anchorage/2016/09/07/anchorage-police-give-details-on-cellphone-surveillance-
after-aclu-records-request/
Excerpt: Anchorage officials said Wednesday the city has only sparsely used the cellphone surveillance equipment
recently targeted by the American Civil Liberties Union for its ability to spy on Americans. The disclosure by
Anchorage police and the city's attorney, prompted by an ACLU of Alaska records request, came amid a national
controversy about how law enforcement monitors cellphones of Americans. The ACLU has been petitioning law
enforcement agencies around the country for information about a class of devices that track cellphone use and
locations. Anchorage police say their device is now obsolete. Known by names like "StingRay" and "KingFish," the
technology allows police departments to intercept cellphone signals. The small, rectangular devices can fit in a
backpack and present themselves to phones as cellphone towers. The device can potentially capture texts, calls,
emails and other data, but Anchorage police say their device was only capable of locating cellphones.
https //www adn com/alaska-news/anchorage/2016/09/07/anchorage-police-give-details-on-cellphone-surveillance-
after-aclu-records-request/
CPR
https //www cpr org/2014/10/21/whos-catching-your-cellphone-conversations/
ACLU ON STINGRAYS
Note from PF: Much of what we have on Stingrays comes from the ACLU. The ACLU’s input (Caution: alternative views
of ACLU found on Rivergold; there are indications the ACLU is linked to anti-American agendas including hostile
forces from outside the United States; however, we need to know what they are saying and doing, whether or not
their ultimate interests are in protecting mainstream America or not; some of the information might be useful for
any citizen; always be prepared to watch for antics, including the Two Horns aspect discussed on River Gold like the
pot calls the kettle black, or the fireman is the fire starter, or the great white knight is the man behind the knife - in
other words, do not always take what this group says and does at face value, there might be hidden aspects). The
thing to consider here is that anti-American groups do not want American security to track their dangerous
activities. Although in the wrong hands tracking devices can and likely do harm any of us, there can be additional
agendas behind so-called “good guy” civil rights groups. For example, Saudi Arabia is a totalitarian state which uses
Stasi-like technology to control its people. When Sunni and Shiite extremists from Saudi Arabia or any other African
or Middle Eastern country defy American laws using civil rights groups like the ACLU, it is a game of chess and two-
facedness. We can indeed learn things from the ACLU and other related groups, but we need to be smart about
who is supposedly being our friend in these matters. We do not want mean fanatics of any persuasion tracking us
out of discrimination or retaliation while misusing their access through the law, but at the same time, we must have
our eyes open about exactly why groups like the ACLU might not like a strong national security system up and
operating in the USA.
https //www aclu org/issues/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/stingray-tracking-devices-whos-got-them
ACLU LAWSUIT AGAINS ICE
Fast Company
(2019/12/11) ICE’s Stingray cellphone spying ignites lawsuit from the ACLU
https //www fastcompany com/90442318/ices-stingray-cellphone-spying-ignites-lawsuit-from-the-aclu
New Mexico
Albuquerque
Arstechnica: (2017 Albuquerque police refuse to say if they have stingrays so ACLU sues
Albuquerque police refuse to say if they have stingrays, so ACLU sues
"These devices are incredibly invasive and the government isn’t being transparent."
CYRUS FARIVAR - 7/10/2017, 9:50 AM
https //arstechnica com/tech-policy/2017/07/albuquerque-police-refuse-to-say-if-they-have-stingrays-so-
aclu-sues/
Govtech: (2018) Police in Albuquerque NM admit to the use of Stingray Device
https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/Police-in-Albuquerque-NM-Admit-to-the-Use-of-Stingray-Device.html
---
Stingrays
Experienced Criminal Lawyers: Stingrays
http://www.experiencedcriminallawyers.com/stingray-government-tracking-and-surveillance-tool/
Excerpt: These devices are used by law enforcement to track individuals. But they are far different from using
someone’s phone to track them via GPS. What makes them different is that they are extremely accurate, able to
pinpoint someone’s location within a few meters, meaning you could be tracked as you move from one room in your
home to another. Also, these devices act as their own cellular network. So, if the police use it against their suspect,
or target, they will also be able to track everyone in that person’s vicinity. Finally, the stingray doesn’t only provide
benign location information; the technology exists for it to capture content—including text messages and web
traffic on a device.
-- See Experienced Criminal Lawyers below
http://www.experiencedcriminallawyers.com/stingray-government-tracking-and-surveillance-tool/
Tech Dirt: EFF-ACLU Public Records Laws Team Up to Expose Hidden Stingray Use Milwaukee Police. By Tim
Cushing 04/26/2016)
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160424/20274734266/eff-aclu-public-records-laws-team-up-to-expose-hidden-
stingray-use-milwaukee-police-department.shtml
Excerpt of quote inside this article: As we’ve seen in other cases involving Stingrays, the government did everything
it could in this case to hide the fact that it used a Stingray—from the court that issued the pen register/trap and
trace order, the court that heard Patrick’s motion to suppress the evidence, and even from Patrick, himself. In
police reports, the officers said only that they “‘obtained information’ of Patrick’s location; . . . had ‘prior knowledge’
that Patrick was occupying the vehicle; . . . [and] ‘obtained information from an unknown source’ that Patrick was
inside the vehicle at that location.”
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160424/20274734266/eff-aclu-public-records-laws-team-up-to-expose-hidden-
stingray-use-milwaukee-police-department.shtml
Wnd: San Diego Police Sued Over StingRay Surveillance (2014)
Excerpt: Last week, the First Amendment Coalition filed a lawsuit (pdf) against the department and the city asking
them to disclose any information they have about the possession and use of International Mobile Subscriber Identity
Catchers (IMSI), better know in the trade as Stingrays….
http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/san-diego-police-sued-over-stingray-surveillance/
The New American: Police Use “StingRay” Device to Monitor Cellphones (2014)
Excerpt: Using a device called StingRay, police across America are able to intercept calls and texts from cell phones
— often without a warrant. The StingRay simulates a cell tower, prompting cellphones within its range to identify
themselves and transmit their signals to the police instead of the nearest mobile network operator’s tower.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/17908-police-use-stingray-device-to-monitor-
cellphones
EFF: When a Secretive Stingray Cell Phone Tracking “Warrant” Isn’t a Warrant (2013)
Excerpt: An Arizona federal court this afternoon will be the battleground over the government's use of a "Stingray"
surveillance device in a closely watched criminal case, United States v. Rigmaiden.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/03/when-stingray-warrant-isnt-warrant
Experienced Lawyers: Stingray Government Tracking and Suveillance Tool
http://www.experiencedcriminallawyers.com/stingray-government-tracking-and-surveillance-tool/
stingrays sections updated 12/20/2016
Stingrays
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/03/when-stingray-warrant-isnt-warrant
http://www.experiencedcriminallawyers.com/stingray-government-tracking-and-surveillance-tool/
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/17908-police-use-stingray-device-to-monitor-
cellphones
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160424/20274734266/eff-aclu-public-records-laws-team-up-to-expose-hidden-
stingray-use-milwaukee-police-department.shtml
http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/san-diego-police-sued-over-stingray-surveillance/
---
Stingrays
Experienced Criminal Lawyers: Stingrays
http://www.experiencedcriminallawyers.com/stingray-government-tracking-and-surveillance-tool/
Excerpt: These devices are used by law enforcement to track individuals. But they are far different from using
someone’s phone to track them via GPS. What makes them different is that they are extremely accurate, able to
pinpoint someone’s location within a few meters, meaning you could be tracked as you move from one room in your
home to another. Also, these devices act as their own cellular network. So, if the police use it against their suspect,
or target, they will also be able to track everyone in that person’s vicinity. Finally, the stingray doesn’t only provide
benign location information; the technology exists for it to capture content—including text messages and web
traffic on a device.
-- See Experienced Criminal Lawyers below
http://www.experiencedcriminallawyers.com/stingray-government-tracking-and-surveillance-tool/
Tech Dirt: EFF-ACLU Public Records Laws Team Up to Expose Hidden Stingray Use Milwaukee Police. By Tim
Cushing 04/26/2016)
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160424/20274734266/eff-aclu-public-records-laws-team-up-to-expose-hidden-
stingray-use-milwaukee-police-department.shtml
Excerpt of quote inside this article: As we’ve seen in other cases involving Stingrays, the government did everything
it could in this case to hide the fact that it used a Stingray—from the court that issued the pen register/trap and
trace order, the court that heard Patrick’s motion to suppress the evidence, and even from Patrick, himself. In
police reports, the officers said only that they “‘obtained information’ of Patrick’s location; . . . had ‘prior knowledge’
that Patrick was occupying the vehicle; . . . [and] ‘obtained information from an unknown source’ that Patrick was
inside the vehicle at that location.”
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160424/20274734266/eff-aclu-public-records-laws-team-up-to-expose-hidden-
stingray-use-milwaukee-police-department.shtml
Wnd: San Diego Police Sued Over StingRay Surveillance (2014)
Excerpt: Last week, the First Amendment Coalition filed a lawsuit (pdf) against the department and the city asking
them to disclose any information they have about the possession and use of International Mobile Subscriber Identity
Catchers (IMSI), better know in the trade as Stingrays….
http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/san-diego-police-sued-over-stingray-surveillance/
The New American: Police Use “StingRay” Device to Monitor Cellphones (2014)
Excerpt: Using a device called StingRay, police across America are able to intercept calls and texts from cell phones
— often without a warrant. The StingRay simulates a cell tower, prompting cellphones within its range to identify
themselves and transmit their signals to the police instead of the nearest mobile network operator’s tower.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/17908-police-use-stingray-device-to-monitor-
cellphones
EFF: When a Secretive Stingray Cell Phone Tracking “Warrant” Isn’t a Warrant (2013)
Excerpt: An Arizona federal court this afternoon will be the battleground over the government's use of a "Stingray"
surveillance device in a closely watched criminal case, United States v. Rigmaiden.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/03/when-stingray-warrant-isnt-warrant
Experienced Lawyers: Stingray Government Tracking and Suveillance Tool
http://www.experiencedcriminallawyers.com/stingray-government-tracking-and-surveillance-tool/
Updates: 2020/05/30 additions - Alaska, CPR; page started 2020/05/30 2019/12/31
Stingrays
Cell Site Simulators