Comments on: FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool

Agency used novel surveillance technique on alleged Mafioso: activating his cell phone's microphone and then just listening.

[DigitalFuzz]

US Constitution & 1984

To some this article is a big surprise; to others it is old news. Whatever one's opinion, this article should be a giant wakeup call for every citizen of this country, because it reinforces the fact that the Constitution of the United States is under attack.

Many Lemmings will say "Go ahead, listen Big Brother, I have nothing to hide!" The Lemmings with their lack of concern for their freedoms, literally tramples on them with their ignorance, and lack of energy to protect what countless Americans have fought so hard for during this country?s rich history.

I feel sorry for the Lemming, because they obviously cannot understand the big picture. For example, the 4th Amendment to the Constitution says:

4th Amendment ? US Constitution:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or things to be seized."

What part of this can people not understand? There is a reason that the Founding Father?s made this a fourth Amendment and not say the thirteenth!

If someone can?t read this Amendment and see the legal and ethical problems either real or potential, and how they pertain to the citizen right now, then they need to spend more time studying history and then extend these lessons, principles, and logic to our present day.

This CNET article is not at all reckless; on the contrary, it is a breath of fresh air. In fact, it raises many substantial issues including but not limited to: First, how many times can the Constitution and Bill of Rights be interpreted and reinterpreted until its original intent and meaning risks degradation? Second, if one Amendment cannot be upheld to the letter, then we as a people risk setting a precedent where other Amendments are open for interpretation and reinterpretation depending on who is in power, and their will at that time. This is scary prospect, especially since this new eavesdropping tool can be very easily abused for political purposes, or for even more sinister purposes.

Finally, we live in dangerous times, I think after 9-11, everyone would agree with this. However, the Constitution and its Amendments were born at a time that was fraught with eminent danger. Some would argue, more danger than we even face right now. Did our Father?s give in to fear and give away their freedoms for security at the time of our country?s turbulent birth? No they did not! Should the US citizen give up their hard fought freedoms so that a handful of criminals can be caught every so often? No we should not. I have more confidence in the wisdom of the Founding Fathers than the ever-shifting politics of our day. We should not have to live in 1984 or even face its possibility.

May God bless America!

[El Kabong]

The Constitution may or may not be under attack...

but it isn't the only thing under attack:
"Feds Arrest Man They Say Planned to Detonate Grenades in Illinois Shopping Mall"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235518,00.html
May God continue to bless America... with dedicated, effective members of law enforcement.
Thank you, FBI, for keeping our families safe.

[cocorudi]

Company Access - WARNING!

Something to think about! First hand knowledge that some managers at a telecommunications company CAN/AND DO listen to employees telephone conversations while employee is at HOME using they're HOME TELEPHONE. One of many ways; manager pulls up the circuit the employees home telephone number is on. Simple as that. Almost forgot - call can also be recorded.

I wonder what category that falls under:

1) ethical standards
2) moral values
3) CRIMINAL/PRIVACY LAWS (with MALICIOUS INTENT)

FBI using cell phone to eaves drop on organized crime.

Manager at telecommunications company eaves dropping on employees home telephone lines.

Apples to oranges!

[ealban04]

Fuck the FBI

They can kiss my black ass. That's invasion of privacy. How can anyone allow this type of ********. I thought this was America! Where's is the ******* freedom. White power!

[LeeJones5]

Cell Phones Companies

Cell phone companie managers do use this kind of device to stalk innocent employees.

[Calibugged]

It saddens me that more americans are only interesed in whats happening with Brittany,or Paris,as opposed to diverting attention to the fact that the Constitution,and the Bill of rights,have and are being butchered right in front of our faces.I personally lived thru two years of,pulling Am Frequency transmitters and wiretaps from our home phone connector box,our cell phones being cloned for eavesdropping purposes,and all the information anyone needs to identify and recognize the signs of these previous illegal activities,are right on the web.Certain Icons that appear on cell phones are a sign of cloning,and if you look at the connectors being place in the wiring of home phones,they are small round red plastic covered discs that your telephone lines now pass thru,and also have the 3m trademark stamped into them.I can tell you there is only one place you will find these discs on 3m website,and its under THE Department of Homeland Security section,and they are listed as 3m scotchlock wiretaps.The Bill of rights,that once had meaning protected ordinary citizens from illegal search and seizure,and from invasion of privacy via electronic surveillance,phone taps,ect.Take the Time to read the patriot act,and enlighten youself as a citizen,how much it destroyed our right to privacy,and left the bill of rights in the condition that it only practical use now is to line a trashcan.Also if you read the patriot act,there is no law regarding the moitoring of your home computer,either by law enforcement,as well as other citizens.It never has been.When the bill of rights protecting citizens from government surveiilance and police state tactics was written,the home computer didnt exist,so no provions were made for them.When the patriot act of 2001 was rushed thru congress,no provision was even considered,so america, for your own future,and that of your childrens,Pay ATTENTION to what capitol hill is doing to your rights,,let your voices be heard,and open your eyes.BIG BROTHER is here,He has little or no accountability for his actions,and if you dont belive what I am saying to you,turn off the tv,read the changes in our freedoms since The patriot act was passed,and if your not convinced then,Only when it bites your ass or you see firsthand this happening to a member of your family,I promise you will get it then.I have lived it,and never charged with any crime,No matter what your opinion is on this,it is in actuality a disecting of our constitutional rights,right in front of our eyes,the foudation of our great nation is crumbling,and until americans no longer sit still and allow it,it will continue to

[lryan68]

As a victim of the use of this technology, I can firmly state that this is an invasion of privacy. While it might be good and well to use for legitimate criminals, as stated, this assume that law enforcement is always working for the greater good of catching criminals. In my case, they are using it to try to target me, although I am not a criminal. There's too much abuse of power out there to let something like this go on.

[Eatmedouchebags]

There are two ways to thwart this:
One is to cover you mouthpiece and remove it to place a call, the second is to go into the settings of the phone and switch the network it is on, until you wish to make a call and then switch it back to the usable network. Remove Sim card is a third.
I like the put a switch on the battery idea. Hmmmm.

[__Jim]

Okay, let's example some technical, and more plausable aspects of this scenario.

- - - - - - - - -
The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations.

The technique is called a "roving bug," and was approved by top U.S. Department of Justice officials for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques such as tailing a suspect or wiretapping him.

Nextel cell phones owned by ...
- - - - - - - -

1) Nextel 'phones' are not/have not been classic 'cell phones'. They are TDMA 6-slot per channel Motorola-format "IDEN" phones. But, the system would still have to be laid out like it were a 'cellular phone' system.

One drawback, the Nextel network's coverage can be spotty, and, you can't roam to another provider!

They use either the traditional SMR band from 851 - 869 MHz (downlink) and not cellular band 869-894 MHz and also they might use the narrow-band SMR freqs around 940 MHz.

2) The FBIs could just as easily have added an FM modulated 2.4 GHz 1 mW oscillator and used the already-present mic as the modulation source.

3) There is also the possiblity that this was a 'flush' or 'draw' manuver, and they never actually used this part of the wiretap. It may have covered other more traditional

4) Am old-style TDMA phone at full power (only 0.6 W) causes in mildly RF-sensitive gear (like some PC speakers) a 'buzz' at the rep rate of the TDMA transmission. My PC speakers at home here are notorious RF sensors for cell phone RF. We've all heard it; I just heard interference on a news broadcast where RF pulsing was picked up by the ENG reporter's audio chain!

Which brings me back to number 2) above, a low-power microwave source embeded in the Nextel iDEN phone ...


__Jim

[baesis]

Does tis explain why a SMS text message may appear one day and the next it has disappeared from your cell. Can anyone comment on this