Compliance Management, Government Regulations, Privacy

Chaffetz proposes federal bill to ban warrantless stingray use

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, introduced a bill Nov. 2 to end warrantless stingray surveillance, according to a release.

The legislation comes after the revelation that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) owned at least one of the devices.

“The fact that law enforcement agencies, and non-law enforcement agencies such as the IRS, have invested in these devices raises serious questions about who is using this technology and why,” Chaffetz said, explaining the abuse of stingrays and other cell site simulators could lead to privacy violations.

The release said the bill would regulate use of the devices while providing exceptions in certain circumstances and in foreign intelligence surveillance.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said 57 agencies in 22 states and the District of Columbia own stingrays, but speculated those figures could be far higher.

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