Stingrays (H 5866)

This important piece of technology, privacy, and law enforcement policy would have prohibited law enforcement agencies from using stingray devices without a court order.

This important piece of technology, privacy, and law enforcement policy would have prohibited law enforcement agencies from using stingray devices without a court order. Stingrays are devices which mimic cell phone towers to gather information about nearby cell phones and can pick up location and personally identifying information about not only a suspect, but all the innocent bystanders in their vicinity. In order to protect the privacy rights of individuals, this surveillance technology must be subject to the judicial oversight that this bill would have ensured. Unfortunately, the bill died in committee.