Tag Archives: Law Enforcement
California Senate OKs Requiring Warrants To Search Smartphones, Tablets
by Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
“What the bill does is brings our state statute into the 21st century to catch up with technology with regards to privacy,” [bill author Senator Mark] Leno told his colleagues. “Of course law enforcement needs a warrant before it can go into your mailbox and read your mail, but it does not currently need a warrant to read your emails or text communications or other electronic communications.” … Leno introduced a similar bill two years ago but it was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Read More ›
Scathing Audit On Border Agency Drones Comes As Police Interest Rises
by Ali Winston, Center for Investigative Reporting
The critical report comes at a time when domestic law enforcement agencies are deepening their interest in unmanned aerial vehicles. Police departments around the country, including in Los Angeles, have purchased drones, though the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet granted them clearance to fly the vehicles. Customs and Border Protection’s Predator drones already have been used for domestic policing operations by federal agencies, including the FBI. Read More ›
LA County to Collect More Personal Data Without Public Notice
by Ali Winston, The Center for Investigative Reporting
[Center for Investigative Reporting] County law enforcement officials are preparing to widen a massive database of iris scans, fingerprints, mug shots, palm prints and, potentially, voice recordings, creating the largest such repository outside of the FBI of so-called next-generation biometric identification. With the FBI’s own system now fully operational, the next phase is for local jurisdictions across the country to update their own information-gathering systems to the FBI’s standards. Read More ›
Smartphone “kill switch” bill facing unusual opposition
by Eric Rasmussen, KTVU
KTVU obtained a “floor alert” regarding Senate Bill 962 sent to members of the Senate by CTIA, a group representing the wireless phone industry. The memo includes an argument that requiring kill switches on phones could place victims of domestic violence in more danger if their abusers are able to remotely activate the technology. Some supporters of the proposed law aren’t buying the argument. Read More ›