Hey all,

Welcome to my little soundboard. Todays topic is stingrays, not the animal but a tech tool. We will outline its practical use and raise the question, is it constitutional?

Context

Shortly after 9/11 our legislature passed "Uniting and Strengthening America By Providing Tools Required To Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act." In short, Patriot Act.

This act is perhaps one of the greatest and most flagrant abuses to civil rights, since inception of our country. Anyway, the reasoning here is that yet this act allows law enforcement to use more tech tools. Yet, the process is reserved for individuals who currently have a warrant.

Some of the abilities listed:

So two essential functions are given here.

1. Ability to collect and obtain electronic communication or that by wire. (Voicemails, texts, Phone calls 'duration, fequency')
2. The ability to DELAY notice of said warrant.

This is scary, as citizens may be targeted and yet not even know it. It also crushes Due Process in the realm of technology.

How does a sting ray function?

A stingray is a drone (newer models) or a cargo van (depicted below). More or less. Its purpose is to be navigated over a population of individuals and to intercept phone calls, texts, emails, voicemails. Litterally everything you transmit via an electronic device. If thats not good enough, it also triangulates your location by communicating with your device and telecommunication switches.

Police have been using stingrays to take down suspected criminals and "terrorists." But it also intercepts a geographic location, not just a single entity.

Constitutional rights of citizens

Although it is not spelled out directly the Fourth Amendment reads:

the right to remain secure in effects, papers....and protections against unlawful searches

While Ive read some very poor interpretation of what the fourth amendment means, lets look at how it could be adapted to this situation.

Effects v. - belongings- synonym possessions, goods

Does it start to sound like a violation?

Looking further

There is no substantial law in place that would allow police use of stingray devices. The laws currently signed only allow "government authorities" not municipalities. So yes, it does violate your civil rights, protections and immunities.

What are your thoughts, does the use of stingray devices violate civil rights?

References

50 USC § 1801,
18 USC § 2712,
31 USC § 5318A,
15 USC § 1681v,
8 USC § 1226A,
18 USC § 1993,
18 USC § 2339,
18 USC § 175b,
50 USC § 403-5b,
51 USC § 5103a
8 USC § 1105,
8 USC § 1182g,
8 USC § 1189,
8 USC § 1202,
12 USC § 1828,
12 USC § 3414,
15 USC § 1681a,
15 USC § 6102,
15 USC § 6106,
18 USC § 7,
18 USC § 81,
18 USC § 175,
18 USC § 470,
18 USC § 471,
18 USC § 472,
18 USC § 473,
18 USC § 474,
18 USC § 476,
18 USC § 477,
18 USC § 478,
18 USC § 479,
18 USC § 480,
18 USC § 481,
18 USC § 484,
18 USC § 493,
18 USC § 917,
18 USC § 930,
18 USC § 981,
18 USC § 1029,
18 USC § 1030,
18 USC § 1362,
18 USC § 1363,
18 USC § 1366,
18 USC § 1956,
18 USC § 1960,
18 USC § 1961,
18 USC § 1992,
18 USC § 2155,
18 USC § 2325,
18 USC § 2331,
18 USC § 2332e,
18 USC § 2339A,
18 USC § 2339B,
18 USC § 2340A,
18 USC § 2510,
18 USC § 2511,
18 USC § 2516,
18 USC § 2517,
18 USC § 2520,
18 USC § 2702,
18 USC § 2703,
18 USC § 2707,
18 USC § 2709,
18 USC § 2711,
18 USC § 3056,
18 USC § 3077,
18 USC § 3103,
18 USC § 3121,
18 USC § 3123,
18 USC § 3124,
18 USC § 3127,
18 USC § 3286,
18 USC § 3583,
20 USC § 1232g,
20 USC § 9007,
31 USC § 310 (redesignated),
31 USC § 5311,
31 USC § 5312,
31 USC § 5317,
31 USC § 5318,
31 USC § 5319,
31 USC § 5321,
31 USC § 5322,
31 USC § 5324,
31 USC § 5330,
31 USC § 5331,
31 USC § 5332,
31 USC § 5341,
42 USC § 2284,
42 USC § 2284,
42 USC § 3796,
42 USC § 3796h,
42 USC § 10601,
42 USC § 10602,
42 USC § 10603,
42 USC § 10603b,
42 USC § 14601,
42 USC § 14135A,
47 USC § 551,
49 USC § 31305,
49 USC § 46504,
49 USC § 46505,
49 USC § 60123,
50 USC § 403-3c,
50 USC § 401a,
50 USC § 1702,
50 USC § 1801,
50 USC § 1803,
50 USC § 1804,
50 USC § 1805,
50 USC § 1806,
50 USC § 1823,
50 USC § 1824,
50 USC § 1842,
50 USC § 1861,
50 USC § 1862,
50 USC § 1863