Turnabout Is Fair Play

Cellular interceptors like the Stingray have received a lot of press in recent years. By imitating a cellular tower, interceptors can convince cellular phones to connect to it instead of a legitimate cellular tower. This allows the person operating the interceptor to surveil communications being transmitted or received by a connected phone. Government agents have been dismissive of questions about the warrant requirements of deploying a device that is capable of surveilling everybody in an area, which has lead to several court battles. However, it appears that government agents don’t appreciate turnabout because they’re upset that an unauthorized cellular interceptor was deployed in Washington DC:

The Associated Press reports today that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that it found what appear to be unauthorized cell-site simulators, also known as Stingrays, in Washington DC last year. The agency told Senator Ron Wyden in a letter that it had found “anomalous activity” consistent with these sorts of devices in the Washington area and a DHS official told the AP that the findings were obtained through a 90-day trial that began in January of last year. Senator Wyden sent the DHS a letter last November requesting information on the use of cell-site simulators by foreign intelligence services.

That’s a shame.

I’m always amused by the hypocritical nature of government agents. They have no problem spying on all of us and even justify doing so. But when somebody spies on them it’s a fucking tragedy that needs immediate attention. I hope whoever was operating that interceptor acquired some good dirt on some high ranking politicians and leaks that information to the public.