Cell Carriers Can Volunteer Your Location, Warrant-Free
It seems that so long as police indicate there is some sort of "exigent circumstance," in other words the risk of physical harm, then cell providers will give up the location of any of their customers to the police without a warning. All they need is some sort of written statement of those exigent circumstances and that's it, whether they be a mother who can't find her kid or a husband whose wife never returned home from work. The situation is different if that customer is involved in a criminal investigation, however. In that case, the police do indeed need a warrant, even if those circumstances still apply.
So, what do you think? Should the police be able to determine your location without any sort of legal proceedings, possibly saving your life if you were ever stranded on the side of the road? Or, should they need a warrant, leaving you on your own to find your way home? [Source: seattlepi, via fark]
Filed under: Cell Phones
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LA @ May 6th 2008 9:15AM
Hey, if you have nothing to hide, what is the big deal? I would much rather they police be able to find my location if Heaven forbid I am ever in an accident or in a situation where I am in need of help.
Me thinks this whole question is "Much Ado About Nothing"!!!!
spankdog42 @ May 6th 2008 10:23AM
me thinks you are an idiot!
MadMike @ May 6th 2008 10:47AM
I agree with LA. I have nothing to hide from the police and I like that emergency services will be able to find me with my phone. Because I also know, if I don't want to be found - I'll TURN OFF THE F*&#NG PHONE.
I carry a digital radio for work and it has an emergency identifier button that notifies the county. I love it. I witnessed a fight in a wawa parking lot where a guy pulled out a knife. One hit of the button and 30 seconds later 10 cop cars converged on my location.