MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A cellphone-tracking technology used to catch the bad guys might give police your cellphone information in the process.
The Memphis Police Department will not specify whether it is using the technology, called “Stingray.”
“It can be used to listen in on conversations or track location,” University of Memphis Law School Associate Dean Steven Mulroy said.
The Associated Press learned Stringray mimics a cell tower, picking up information from nearby phones. It is the size of a suitcase.
Some fear it gathers innocent people’s cellphone info, along with the target’s.
Tamara Hendrix with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center was concerned when WREG told her about it Monday.
“We will definitely try to follow up on this,” Hendrix said.
MPD addressed the issue in a statement to WREG: “We are not at liberty to discuss how technology is used to enhance our ability to address crime.”
However, the department openly shared information about other types of technology, such as body cameras and GPS in squad cars in the past.
“They just won’t talk to us about this technology, and that raises a legitimate concern of, ‘Are they using it?'” Mulroy said. “And if the answer is no, then that’s great. They should just tell us that.”
The FBI would not go into detail about how or where the Stingray is installed but did say it is used to pinpoint location, not intercept cellphone information.
Federal law enforcement needs a warrant to use the technology. Mulroy said the technology is too new to know if local police departments have safeguards in place.