U.S. police use vendor services to locate anyone’s mobile phone in seconds

According to New York Times report that a company that primarily handles prison phone systems uses data-sharing services provided by communication operators to allow police to track the numbers of any American citizens without legal checks to prevent them from being abused. According to reports, a former sheriff in Mississippi County, Missouri, uses a service called Securus to monitor target phones, including judges, other police officers, and even inmate calls.

Securus uses a data system, which is a data system that communication operators typically provide to marketers who want to micro-target consumers based on data, including their location. However, in this case, Securus uses the system to provide users with almost uncontrolled national positioning tracking. The New York Times claimed that Securus provided location tracking additional services to its law enforcement and prison customers. However, it does not require a review to ensure that search warrants or other legal instruments are issued for follow-up.

In a statement to the New York Times, a Securus spokesperson stated: “Securus is neither a judge nor a district attorney, and the responsibility of ensuring the legal adequacy of supporting documentation lies with our law enforcement customers and their counsel.” Securus confirmed that it did not “conduct any review of surveillance requests. Wireless carriers have an obligation to take affirmative steps to verify law enforcement requests.”

Motherboard reported that Senator Ron Wyden had sent letters to the FCC and telecommunications companies requesting detailed information on the plan. In a letter to AT&T, Wyden wrote: “I am writing to insist that AT&T take proactive steps to prevent the unrestricted disclosure and potential abuse of private customer data, including real-time location information, by at least one other company to the government.”