Americans’ Cellphones Targeted in Secret U.S. Spy Program

By: Kailey Butler

What Does This Mean?The Justice Department is taking data from thousands of mobile phones.This is accusing many innocent AmericansCatching more criminals

How Do They Do It?Planes with “dirtboxes” mimic cellphone towers.These dirtboxes trick cellphones into giving out

personal information.Takes data from 10,000 phones at one time

What Do They Collect?Identifying

informationGeneral locationRegistration

informationCallsMessagesEmails

How Frequent Are The Flights?Law enforcement would not release the frequency or

duration of these flights.They take place on a regular basisThe Justice Department would not confirm or deny the

existence of the program.Discussion of these matters would allow criminal suspects

to determine U.S. surveillance capabilities.The Justice Department went to court to seek approval.

Why Do They Do This?Scoops up large volumes of data to find suspectsThe technology locates cellphones linked to individuals

under investigation by the government.People being searched for are

FugitivesThievesDrug Dealers

AdvantagesMore criminals are taken off of the streets.The government can sift through a greater volume

of information and with greater precisionThe technology can pinpoint its location within

about 10 feet, down to a specific room in a building

DisadvantagesInnocent people end up being accused of a

crime they never committed.Some argue that their rights of privacy are

slowly being taken away.

Videohttps://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcZW5AjR1mE&index=5&list=UUK7tptUDHh-RYDsdxO1-5QQ

Works Citedhttp://

online.wsj.com/articles/americans-cellphones-targeted-in-secret-u-s-spy-program-1415917533