Privacy advocates gained access to a powerful tool bought by U.S. law enforcement agencies that can track smartphone locations around the world. Abortion clinics, places of worship, and individual people can all be monitored without a warrant.

Privacy advocates got access to Locate X, a phone tracking tool which multiple U.S. agencies have bought access to, and showed me and other journalists exactly what it was capable of. Tracking a phone from one state to another to an abortion clinic. Multiple places of worship. A school. Following a likely juror to a residence. And all of this tracking is possible without a warrant, and instead just a few clicks of a mouse.

  • mx_smith@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    4 hours ago

    Can you really trust airplane mode to ensure there is nothing going out. I agree people should just leave them at home, but these bags are like putting tape over your laptop camera. Just an extra peace of mind when going to the Dr.

    • laverabe@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      4 hours ago

      I probably wouldn’t trust airplane mode, but I do believe power off is safe. There is no transmit capability in off correct?

      But yeah, leaving phone at home is best knowing tracking sites like these exist.

      • GreyEyedGhostEnglish
        1·
        34 minutes ago

        It has been know for at least a decade, I think, that the GSM chip could still contact cell towers while the phone was powered off. I’m sure its successor hasn’t lost that capability.