If you’re ever on the phone in the street in the United States, you might want to think twice about being too candid. It’s being reported that intelligence agencies are eavesdropping on thousands of people’s calls using fake cellphone towers installed on small planes – all without a search warrant.
It’s a strategy designed to pinpoint criminals, so police can then be dispatched to catch them – although there are serious concerns about how much is being listened in to.
How is it that law enforcement is allowed to transmit signals without an FCC license? I thought we are a nation of laws, but if you or I start broadcasting a pirate radio station, especially one that interferes with licensed signals (which this device does), then we’re in deep shit; confiscation of the equipment, a big fine, and if we keep doing it, prison time.
This is illegal and wrong in so many ways I can’t count them. Where are the lawsuits from the carriers?
Basically, anybody can listen to any radio signal. The law only says you can’t use such reception for illegal purposes. Cell phones are two-way radios.
SFAIK, all police agencies have FCC licenses. That’s how these books are published with the frequencies of the majority of local law enforcement (as well as paramedics, fire, etc.) Some fed stuff isn’t published, but they do have licenses.