Texas Police Use Controversial Phone-Tracking Software Without Transparency
By
nobody9999
4mo ago· 18 min readenNews
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Summary
Texas law enforcement agencies have invested millions in a controversial phone-tracking software called Fog Reveal, which uses advertising data to track cell phone locations without warrants. The software, developed by Fog Data Science, allows police to access location data from hundreds of millions of devices by analyzing advertising IDs. While law enforcement claims it helps develop leads for investigations like human smuggling cases, civil liberties experts argue its use violates constitutional rights and lacks proper oversight. The investigation reveals widespread use across Texas with little transparency about how the technology is deployed.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledOne sheriff who leads an anti-smuggling task force says the software helps 'develop leads to eventually obtain probable cause.'
Civil liberties experts say its use violates constitutional rights.
Goliad County police kicked off one human smuggling investigation not with a suspect's name, but with a discarded receipt and cell phone surveillance software.
Trying to evade the cops, the driver tossed a receipt from a Buc-ee's convenience store out the window, which police later used to identify the vehicle's occupants through surveillance footage.
The software allows police to access location data from hundreds of millions of devices by analyzing advertising IDs.
One sheriff who leads an anti-smuggling task force says the software helps “develop leads to eventually obtain probable cause.” Civil liberties experts say its use violates constitutional rights.
