Metropolitan Police Mobile Phone Monitoring Technology Revealed

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has come under fire after revelations that it has been using technology to monitor mobile phone communications over a 10km radius, in an apparent breach of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

Documents uncovered by The Guardian found that the MPS has been paying a Leeds-based company called Datong since 2008 for technology that allows it to create a ‘spoof’ mobile phone mast through which communications can be intercepted.

The fake mast can also monitor the movements of a device, without knowing the identity of its owner, by tracking the Temporary International Mobile Subscriber Identity information broadcast by mobile phones.

This would appear to be in breach of the RIPA, which gives police the power to intercept the transmissions only of specified individuals or premises, rather than blanket coverage of an entire area.

The MPS said that it is unable to discuss the specific technologies it uses, but did claim that all its work is legal and compliant.

“The MPS 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,” the force said.

“Although we do not discuss specific technology or tactics, we can reassure those who live and work in London that any activity we undertake is in compliance with legislation and codes of practice.”
Datong refused to comment when contacted.

Nick Pickles, director at privacy and civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, told V3 that the Met’s refusal to explain how it used the technology is alarming.

“Just like the Patriot Act in the US, new wide-ranging powers introduced in a knee-jerk manner after 7/7 mean the use of RIPA for such measures is a grossly disproportionate invasion of people’s privacy,” he said.

“There is no clear reason why the Met has to use this technology as it generates so much information that finding anything of use would be like looking for a needle in the haystack. It just offers blanket coverage that’s an excuse for lazy policing.”

Pickles has contacted the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the authority that oversees how RIPA is used, to investigate the issue.

Robin Fry, a partner at law firm DAC Beachcroft, told V3 that the Met’s use of the technology highlights the grey areas in UK surveillance laws that urgently need addressing.

“There are highly controlled laws over surveillance but only if it is ‘directed’ at individuals. There’s no single law against our being monitored in groups,” he said.

“Our data privacy laws desperately need to move forward to cover collection of information against groups, which many believe will sooner or later be unpacked to give out sensitive information about particular individuals.”

The revelations come as The Telegraph claims to have uncovered information suggesting that the MPS has access to a range of light aircraft fitted with technology that allows it to monitor mobile conversations while flying over London.

Source:

http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/2121351/privacy-fears-mets-mobile-phone-monitoring-technology-revealed