Phones as bugs
From Blindside
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[edit] What is it
This is one of the latest covert listening techniques used in espionage and increasingly in police investigations. Use of cell phones as bugs came to light when it was found that FBI had remotely activated mobile phones’ microphones of members of a New York organized crime family and used it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations. [1]
Some mobile phone (cell phone) microphones can be activated remotely, without any need for physical access, even when the phone is switched off. Also called Roving Bug, this feature is reportedly being used by law enforcement agencies and intelligence services to listen in on nearby conversations. A United States court ruled in 2006 that a similar technique, used by the FBI against a mobster after having obtained a court order, was permissible. While it is not possible to do this with every mobile phone as of 2006, some models are susceptible to being remotely reprogrammed with this capability without the knowledge of its owner. Purportedly, the person carrying the phone will not know that the phone is transmitting his conversation, but an observant owner may notice that the battery is being depleted sooner than expected. Wikipedia
[edit] Impact & Maturity assessment
We assign this an Impact Level of 2, our intermediate level, as this technique can also be used by criminal individuals and terrorists and may be applicable to other wireless tools. The principal information assurance concern is when additional information is transmitted along with a voice conversation. We feel this will be driven in part from technology companies bowing to concerns from (for example) parents' desire to monitor their childrens' behaviour or employers wishing to keep closer tabs on their employees.
We assign this a Maturity Level of 1, our lowest level, as it does not yet appear to have spread beyond the law enforcement community.
[edit] Information Assurance issues
Information assurance issues will arise if there is a rampant use of cell phones as bugs by law enforcement agencies; another concern is the use of the same technology by private detectives.
[edit] Timescale
Is the impact of this emerging technology felt - now (less than 18 months) - in 2-5 years? - in 5-25 years - longer-term than that even
[edit] Examples
News:
FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool NEWS.com December 1, 2006
Use of mobile helped police keep tabs on suspect and brother Financial Times August 2, 2005
This goes no further... BBC 2 March, 2004
Even if they're off, cellphones allow FBI to listen in Seattle Times December 13, 2006
Is Bluetooth Bluejacking a Security Flaw?
Device detects cell phone bugs
[edit] Comments (attributed)
Kevin Bankston, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation is of the opinion that converting cellphones into stealth microphones violates the Fourth Amendment protection against overly broad searches. On the use of cellphones as bugs by FBI he says:
- This is a kind of surveillance we've never really seen before. The government can and will exploit whatever technology is available to achieve their surveillance goals. This is of particular concern, considering the proliferation of microphones and cameras in the products we own. [2]
FBI spokesman James Margolin said the bureau's use of roving bugs is monitored closely by the courts. He further adds:
- The operative thing for any concerned citizen is, we only do this when we get authorization from the judiciary, when we meet the probable-cause threshold. It's not a situation where we just turn the tape on and we gather everything, by law, we only listen to what the warrant authorizes us to listen to. [3]
[edit] Organisations
Groups which have a particular contribution or point of view about this emerging technology, eg tech businesses, user organisations or advocacy groups
[edit] Documents & research papers
Very brief abstracts or links to informative documents, presentations or academic research papers about this emerging technology
