FunkyMike Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Via TheAntiMedia.org, Quote “Any person who operates a motor vehicle in the state shall be deemed to have given consent to field testing of his or her mobile telephone and/or personal electronic device for the purpose of determining the use thereof while operating a motor vehicle, provided that such testing is conducted by or at the direction of a police officer.” That’s language from the text of a bill currently working its way through the New York state legislature. The legislation would allow cops to search through drivers’ cell phones following traffic incidents — even minor fender-benders — to determine if the person was using their phone while behind the wheel. Most states have laws banning the use of mobile devices while driving, though such laws are rarely enforced. This is largely because it’s nearly impossible to catch someone in the act. What person would admit to an officer that they broke the law, the argument goes, particularly when it’s after the fact? After all, cops don’t show up until after the accident occurs. Now, technology exists that would give police the power to plug drivers’ phones into tablet-like devices — being called “textalyzers” in the media — that tell officers exactly what they were doing on their phone and exactly when they were doing it. And if the readout shows a driver was texting while driving, for instance, the legal system will have an additional way to fine them. Quote “Recording your every click, tap or swipe, it would even know what apps you were using. Police officers could download the data, right on the spot,” Jeff Rossen of NBC News said in a video report on the technology. Proponents of the legislation point to the rise in traffic fatalities associated with using mobile devices while driving. But rights activists, such as Rashida Richardson of the New York Civil Liberties Union, says it’s a societal issue and no excuse to violate an individual’s privacy: Quote “This is a concern because our phones have some of our most personal and private information — so we’re certain that if this law is enforced as it is proposed, it will not only violate people’s privacy rights, but also civil liberties.” New York state isn’t alone. Currently, similar legislation is being considered in Tennessee and New Jersey. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-06-27/new-device-allows-cops-download-all-your-smartphone-activity-seconds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted June 28, 2017 Global Moderator Share Posted June 28, 2017 "Papathanasiou says the technology still isn't fully developed, but would be tailored to what's legal in each jurisdiction that approves its use. And he insists that the textalyzer would only capture taps and swipes to determine if a driver was using the phone — that it would not download content — and that it would be able to tell if the driver was using a phone legally, hands-free." I do not see a problem with that. But if it downloaded personal content, as the Civil Liberties Union fears it could be used for, yea ... that would be a problem. The NPR article (linked three times in the ZH rehash) is a better article regarding the topic...IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted July 3, 2017 Subscriber¹ Share Posted July 3, 2017 Quote Now, technology exists that would give police the power to plug drivers’ phones into tablet-like devices — being called “textalyzers” in the media — that tell officers exactly what they were doing on their phone and exactly when they were doing it. And if the readout shows a driver was texting while driving, for instance, the legal system will have an additional way to fine them. What if I give my phone to my kid to play with while I'm driving? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) An already deployed device is Stingray, which is a cell tower simulator. Phones near it connect to the Stingray and the data transmitted/received is trapped. https://www.aclu.org/map/stingray-tracking-devices-whos-got-them Edited July 4, 2017 by DocM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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