Tuesday a federal appeals court in Philadelphia ruled that--in most cases--the FBI and other police agencies do not need a search warrant in order to track the location of cell phones used by Americans.
The three-judge panel of the Third Circuit sided with the Obama Administration (pdf) in the belief that a signed search warrant--one based on a probable cause to suspect criminal activity--isn't necessary when obtaining logs from wireless carriers that depict the whereabouts of a cell phone.
However the panel also sided with civil-liberties groups and decided that, in some cases, investigators will still need to obtain a search warrant from the lower courts to avoid potentially unconstitutional seizures of location data. The court said that this option would be used "sparingly."
Sabre (Julian) 92.5% Stock 04 STI
Good choice putting $4,000 rims on your 1990 Honda Civic. That's like Betty White going out and getting her tits done.
Years ago, DOT gave VADOT a ton of money to install cameras at every stoplight on Rt 7 from downtown Leesburg to Tysons ostensibly to 'smooth traffic flow'. Either VADOT isn't bothering to do anything with that new found info (i.e. anybody who's tried to commute on that route knows its nothing but stoplight bingo the whole way) or DHS got exactly what it was looking for....eyes on a major route towards one of its key facilities (Mt Weather)
</tinfoilhat>
2013 BMW 328i M Sport with 8sp in Estoril Blue II
2012 Chrysler 300C SRT8 - Always bet on black
2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Edition, otherwise known as the MW3 (and badass)
Like a warrant is difficult to get. Why doesn't Faux News harp about this? They spend so much time just making shit up about the Obama administration but never any time on a real issue.
And what the hell does However the panel also sided with civil-liberties groups and decided that, in some cases, investigators will still need to obtain a search warrant from the lower courts to avoid potentially unconstitutional seizures of location data. The court said that this option would be used "sparingly." even mean??? You don't need a warrent, except sometimes, but not really.
The more I hear and read about this sort of thing I can't help but feel threatened by our own Government.
It's sort of like having a viscious gaurd dog protecting you, but your always worried that he's going to turn on you at any moment.
Why doesn't Faux News harp about this? They spend so much time just making shit up about the Obama administration but never any time on a real issue. 