Revealed: US Agency Using Spy Planes to Fool Cell Phones, Capture Data

According to new reporting by the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Marshals Service—an arm of the Department of Justice—has been using small aircraft equipped with technology that can mimic the functions of cell towers in order to capture the data contained on phones and mobile devices of people across large areas on the ground below.

Citing those familiar with the program, the Journal report (subscription) reveals how the program’s use of so-called “dirtbox” technology is part of “a high-tech hunt for criminal suspects that is snagging a large number of innocent Americans” in a dragnet approach that will remind some of similar techniques known to be used by the National Security Agency and other federal agencies.

The WSJ reporting relates how the Marshals Service operate a fleet of specially-outfitted Cessna airplanes which can take off from “at least five metro-area airports,” allowing the aircraft a range that covers “most of the US population.”

As GeekWire explains, because the “dirtbox” devices “emulate a cell tower, they can pick up thousands or tens of thousands of signals from other citizens who aren’t being targeted by the Marshals.”

Writing for Gizmodo where she covers surveillance issues, journalist Kate Knibbs responded to the story by exclaiming, “What the hell.” She continued:

According to the Washington Post:

And the Guardian adds:

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