Are Stingrays vacuuming up your most sensitive information?

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Published on Thursday, 31 March 2016 09:30

Written by editor

It’s time to put a stop to government spying on our cell phones. Tell lawmakers: It’s time to Stop Stingray Surveillance.

We just found out that the RCMP has been using secretive technologies to spy on Canadians’ cell phones.1

These invasive devices are called “Stingrays,” and trick your cell phones into giving away your most sensitive information – without your consent.2 They can listen to your calls and suck up every single piece of sensitive, personal information in your cell phone.

It’s time to put a stop to this. Take a stand today: Demand safeguards to protect us from Stingray surveillance.

Stingrays can’t be targeted at just one person — instead they sweep up data from entire neighborhoods.3 They’re being used to eavesdrop on innocent Canadians, and can capture the sensitive data of up to 10,000 people at a time.4 You don’t have to do anything wrong to be a victim. And if you have been spied on, you won’t even know.

What’s worse: Law enforcement is keeping the use of this irresponsible tool under a veil of secrecy. OpenMedia, alongside BCCLA, BC FIPA, and Pivot Legal Society, just filed a critical intervention to the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner demanding that the Vancouver Police Department stop refusing to answer requests for information.5

But the use of Stingrays by police forces is slowly being revealed. Just this month the OPP launched an investigation into their use in an Ontario prison.6

Stingrays have been under the radar for too long. It’s time for us to speak out and demand decision-makers put a stop to irresponsible Stingray surveillance.

We can’t afford to wait until Stingray use is too widespread to stop. We have to act now.

Will you add your voice, and help us put a stop to irresponsible Stingray surveillance?

Thank you for speaking up for our digital privacy,

Laura, on behalf of your OpenMedia team

P.S. We need your help to ensure that law-makers act quickly, by showing that we have a groundswell of support to make action happen. Will you take action NOW?

Footnotes
[1] RCMP fight to keep lid on high-tech investigation tool. Source: Globe and Mail
[2] What is a Stingray and why should I care? Source: OpenMedia
[3] [4] The Secret Surveillance Catalogue. Source: The Intercept
[5] OpenMedia demands answers from VPD on potential Stingray cell phone surveillance. Source: OpenMedia
[6] Surveillance device used in prison sets off police probe. Source: Globe and Mail

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