In response to an online post, Oakland County
Undersheriff Mike McCabe is denying that the Sheriff’s Department is using
NSA-level electronic surveillance equipment to spy on Oakland County residents.
Undersheriff Mike McCabe is denying that the Sheriff’s Department is using
NSA-level electronic surveillance equipment to spy on Oakland County residents.
Someone writing under the name “P” wrote a post that
insisted the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department had purchased a spying system
known as “Hailstorm” so that officers can eavesdrop on cell phone conversations.
insisted the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department had purchased a spying system
known as “Hailstorm” so that officers can eavesdrop on cell phone conversations.
“That’s absolutely not true,” McCabe responded. In order
to listen in on a phone conversation, the department would need a federal search
warrant, the undersheriff said.
to listen in on a phone conversation, the department would need a federal search
warrant, the undersheriff said.
McCabe is not allowed to say much about the Hailstorm
system, under FBI law enforcement rules, but the device apparently can track
people who are police suspects. The Florida manufacturer of the new technology,
Harris Corp., requires each department that purchases their product to sign a
confidentiality agreement.
system, under FBI law enforcement rules, but the device apparently can track
people who are police suspects. The Florida manufacturer of the new technology,
Harris Corp., requires each department that purchases their product to sign a
confidentiality agreement.
In the blog posted on planet.infowars.com, a site known
for its conspiracy theories and fringe politics, P claimed that the Sheriff’s
Department now has almost unlimited surveillance capabilities:
for its conspiracy theories and fringe politics, P claimed that the Sheriff’s
Department now has almost unlimited surveillance capabilities:
“The ‘Hailstorm (Harris Corp.)’ mobile phone
tracking device is shrouded in secrecy, but reportedly this NSA type device is
able to intercept any and all citizen’s mobile communications, track
locations, access/ takeover mobile phones, which allow police to takeover (sic)
a target mobile phone camera/ microphone to eavesdrop???? Local
police having the power of direct access into our homes?? The Hailstorm can
also be used for a ‘denial of service’ attack to disable a target phone.
In theory, with the click of a mouse all of the phones and cameras could be
disabled in a target area. This would be a good way to prevent citizens
from recording/ videotaping police misconduct. Are you kidding
me? Local law enforcement has this kind of all seeing/knowing power,
with no rules or oversight? The Hailstorm device could be used against us
and no one would ever know.”
tracking device is shrouded in secrecy, but reportedly this NSA type device is
able to intercept any and all citizen’s mobile communications, track
locations, access/ takeover mobile phones, which allow police to takeover (sic)
a target mobile phone camera/ microphone to eavesdrop???? Local
police having the power of direct access into our homes?? The Hailstorm can
also be used for a ‘denial of service’ attack to disable a target phone.
In theory, with the click of a mouse all of the phones and cameras could be
disabled in a target area. This would be a good way to prevent citizens
from recording/ videotaping police misconduct. Are you kidding
me? Local law enforcement has this kind of all seeing/knowing power,
with no rules or oversight? The Hailstorm device could be used against us
and no one would ever know.”
McCabe said he believes that P is actually a former
Sheriff’s Department deputy who was dismissed from his job several years ago
and lost a court bid to regain his post. Since then, said the undersheriff, the
man has engaged in a series of written and verbal attacks on the department
using the pseudonym Rogue O’Flaherty.
Sheriff’s Department deputy who was dismissed from his job several years ago
and lost a court bid to regain his post. Since then, said the undersheriff, the
man has engaged in a series of written and verbal attacks on the department
using the pseudonym Rogue O’Flaherty.
The Infowars post has apparently been distributed, to
some extent, via email. McCabe has talked with the Board of Commissioners and explained the situation. County Commissioner Jim Runestad, a tea party Republican
from White Lake Township, was especially worked up about the prospect of an
elaborate Sheriff’s Department spying operation. The NSA, after all, has made a
lot of people paranoid.
some extent, via email. McCabe has talked with the Board of Commissioners and explained the situation. County Commissioner Jim Runestad, a tea party Republican
from White Lake Township, was especially worked up about the prospect of an
elaborate Sheriff’s Department spying operation. The NSA, after all, has made a
lot of people paranoid.
According to a USA Today investigation in December of
local law enforcement’s clandestine tactics, Hailstorm is the latest upgrade of
technology that can quickly gather up names and phone numbers of people in a
designated area, as well as historical data on calls made and texts sent.
local law enforcement’s clandestine tactics, Hailstorm is the latest upgrade of
technology that can quickly gather up names and phone numbers of people in a
designated area, as well as historical data on calls made and texts sent.
More
commonly known as a Stingray system, this high-tech approach is typically used by
cops to hunt a single phone’s location, but in the process it intercepts data
from all phones within a mile, or farther, depending on terrain and antennas.
commonly known as a Stingray system, this high-tech approach is typically used by
cops to hunt a single phone’s location, but in the process it intercepts data
from all phones within a mile, or farther, depending on terrain and antennas.
Mengle2. me thinks the sheriff doth overly protest