Privacy advocates gained access to a powerful tool bought by U.S. law enforcement agencies that can track smartphone locations around the world. Abortion clinics, places of worship, and individual people can all be monitored without a warrant.

Privacy advocates got access to Locate X, a phone tracking tool which multiple U.S. agencies have bought access to, and showed me and other journalists exactly what it was capable of. Tracking a phone from one state to another to an abortion clinic. Multiple places of worship. A school. Following a likely juror to a residence. And all of this tracking is possible without a warrant, and instead just a few clicks of a mouse.

    • EchEnglish
      14•29 days ago

      I didn’t read the article, but wouldn’t the site see the phone as soon as it’s taken out of the bag? Unless the plan is to leave the phone in the bag the whole time, at which point it seems easier to just leave it behind.

      • Mayor PoopingtonEnglish
        1•29 days ago

        Pretty much. Can’t see the rest of the article, but most likely it’s just tower data, which only gives a general location. But as soon as you pull your phone out and get messages you would be traceable. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a phone

        • @[email protected]English
          3•29 days ago

          I’ll admit I didn’t open the article, as far as I’m aware the best way to sidestep silly requirements like warrants is to just purchase data intended for advertising. Databrokers really have an amazing wealth of info ready to be tapped into, all you gotta do is pay.

    • @laverabeEnglish
      2•29 days ago

      Or just hit airplane mode / power off. Or just leave the phone at home, the procedure takes only 5-10 minutes.

      People are way to attached to their phones. The world will not collapse in that hour, it is a survivable event, or so I hear from reputable sources.

      • @GreenKnight23English
        7•29 days ago

        airplane mode is on record not trustworthy.

        it will not communicate outward, but it will scan for WiFi and BT APs, then report home once you’re back online.

        even turning your phone off won’t help.

        you need to remove the battery to be sure.

        when I commit my “crimes” against “society” I just leave my phone at home.

        “where were you on x night?” - at home

        “what were you doing?” - jerking off to the thought of your intelligence guys listening to me beating off

        “…”

      • @mx_smithEnglish
        6•29 days ago

        Can you really trust airplane mode to ensure there is nothing going out. I agree people should just leave them at home, but these bags are like putting tape over your laptop camera. Just an extra peace of mind when going to the Dr.

        • @laverabeEnglish
          3•29 days ago

          I probably wouldn’t trust airplane mode, but I do believe power off is safe. There is no transmit capability in off correct?

          But yeah, leaving phone at home is best knowing tracking sites like these exist.

          • @[email protected]English
            2•29 days ago

            It has been know for at least a decade, I think, that the GSM chip could still contact cell towers while the phone was powered off. I’m sure its successor hasn’t lost that capability.