Seattle police have a wireless network that can track your every move

[jakeXT]

SEATTLE —

In February, the Seattle Police Department announced it bought what's called a "mesh network," that will be used as a dedicated wireless network for emergency responders. What SPD did not say is that the network is capable of tracking anyone with a device that has a Wi-Fi connection. "They now own a piece of equipment that has tracking capabilities so we think that they should be going to City Council and presenting a protocol for the whole network that says they won't be using it for surveillance purposes," said Jamela Debelak of the American Civil Liberties Union.

A spokesperson for Seattle Police said the network is not being used right now. A draft policy is being reviewed by the city attorney's office and will eventually go before the City Council.

The network includes 160 wireless access points that are mounted on poles across Seattle. Every time a device looks for a Wi-Fi signal and the access point recognizes it, it can store that data. The manufacturer of the network points out in a manual that the mesh network can store IP addresses, device types, applications used by the devices, current location, and historical location. This information can be stored and connected for the last 1,000 times a person is connected with a specific device. The network shows up online in public places usually as intersections in the city such as, "4th&Pike," "4th&University" and "3rd&Union."


...

The network was bought with a Homeland Security grant for $2.6 million. A spokesperson for the city attorney's office said a government affairs attorney is working with SPD to review the policy but there is no timeline as to when the review will be completed.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/seattle-police-have-wireless-network-can-track-you/nbmHW/


You Are a Rogue Device

A New Apparatus Capable of Spying on You Has Been Installed Throughout Downtown Seattle. Very Few Citizens Know What It Is, and Officials Don’t Want to Talk About It.

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/you-are-a-rogue-device/Content?oid=18143845

[X_Digger]

1. Umm.. any decent wireless router can do this.

I can sit and watch my router logs as people on the street drive by with their smart phones.

Simple solution? Turn off wifi on your phone. It also helps with battery life.

[giftedgirl77]

2. I do this through sprint now with my GPS to track my

kids. If your Bluetooth is on & you don't have your security set up properly anyone around you can access your phone & pull all of your fast off of it to include pictures & phonebook. Word of advice if you don't like people peeping don't have a device on you that is open to the public in several different ways.

[seveneyes]

3. Your drivers license is being monitored too

I have noticed more businesses that card people for purchases now scan your license. I'm sure that information is bounced off police records and other data bases to see if you are in violation. An alert could have the folks in blue on your tail rather quickly.

[Coyotl]

4. This capability is already in place where wi-fi exists and you use it.

Given one is allowed access or hacks in, the capability is there physically already. The programming for the existing system is not exactly public domain today. How do we know this is not already happening just about anywhere there is coverage.

"We can hear you now."

[Taitertots]

5. This system WILL BE ABUSED. It will become a tool in any case no matter how trivial

I'll bet it NEVER actually gets used in a terrorism case.

[dickthegrouch]

6. My advice:

(I am not an attorney)
However, my advice is to ask strong questions about the "probable cause" at every turn.
And remember, the cops know far better than we do how to game the system.
Take advantage of your right to say nothing without a lawyer present.