Controlling cell phones remotelyU.K. police technology allows tracking, controlling cell phones remotely

Published 1 November 2011

Civil rights groups in the United Kingdom are up in arms over the revelation that the U.K.’s largest police force, the Metropolitan Police, has acquired the technology to shut down cell phones remotely, intercept communications, and gather data on thousands of users in a targeted area

Civil rights groups in the United Kingdom are up in arms over the revelation that the U.K.’s largest police force, the Metropolitan Police, has the technology to shut downcell phones remotely, intercept communications, and gather data on thousands of users in a targeted area.

Using technology from Leeds based Datong, the Metropolitan Police can send a signal over an area of roughly six square miles that can force thousands of cell phones to release their unique IMSI and IMEI identity codes which can then be sued to track a user’s movements in real time.

Privacy groups and civil liberties lawyers say the technology could be used to indiscriminately monitor thousands of innocent people.

It raises a number of serious civil liberties concerns and clarification is urgently needed on when and where this technology has been deployed, and what data has been gathered,” said Nick Pickles, the director of Big Brother Watch’s privacy and civil liberties campaign group. “Such invasive surveillance must be tightly regulated, authorized at the highest level and only used in the most serious of investigations. It should be absolutely clear that only data directly relating to targets of investigations is monitored or stored.”

The Metropolitan Police has not confirmed whether the system has been used in public order situations, like during large protests or demonstrations.

In defense of the system, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said, “The MPS [Metropolitan police service] may employ surveillance technology as part of our continuing efforts to ensure the safety of Londoners and detect criminality. It can be a vital and highly effective investigative tool.”

Although we do not discuss specific technology or tactics, we can re-assure those who live and work in London that any activity we undertake is in compliance with legislation and codes of practice.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the U.K. Home Office said covert surveillance technology is constantly under review by Sir Christopher Rose, the chief surveillance commissioner, who works to ensure that authorities’ actions are within the limits of the law.

With the system, officers can place a transceiver, roughly the size of a suitcase, in a vehicle or in a static location that can be remotely operated. In addition, the company sells clandestine portable transceivers.

Datong sells its products to nearly 40 countries around the world and counts the U.S. Secret Service, Special Operations Command, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement as clients.