THE FBI used a ‘geofence warrant’ to access data about all Android users who were near a BLM protest attack, according to new documents.
Google was served with a warrant as part of an investigation into an attempted arson at a police union building in Seattle in 2020.
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The attack took place on August 24.
This was one day after a police officer shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Recently released documents show that the FBI used a controversial ‘geofence warrant’ to make Google give them information about all Android devices that had been near the area around the time of the attack.
Privacy experts have previously expressed concerned about Google location data being used by law enforcement to try and find crime suspects.
The Seattle incident isn’t the first time police in the US have been known to take out something called a ‘geofence warrant’ that can result in Google handing over your data.
Geofence warrants can lead to anyone who was near a crime scene becoming a suspect.
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If your phone shows you were near a crime scene at a time of interest you may become involved in a police investigation.
In the case of the Seattle incident, an FBI agent told the court: “On August 24, 2020, at approximately 11:00 p.m., two unknown suspects intentionally damaged the SPOG building using what I believe to be improvised incendiary devices.
“Based on the foregoing, I submit that there is probable cause to search information that is currently in the possession of Google and that relates to the devices that reported being within the Target Location.”
The warrant asked Google for: “Location History data, sourced from information including GPS data and information about visible wi-fi points and Bluetooth beacons transmitted from devices to Google, reflecting devices that Google calculated were or could have been … located within the geographical region bounded by the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, dates, and times below.”
Google usually gives out an anonymized list of Android devices that were present in the requested area.
If any are of interest to the police, Google may then be asked to release more information.
According to The Verge, a Google spokesperson said: “As with all law enforcement requests, we have a rigorous process that is designed to protect the privacy of our users while supporting the important work of law enforcement.”
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In other news, Tesla has revealed that it’s been holding Bitcoin worth $1.99billion since December 31, 2021.
Microsoft has explained how users can protect themselves “from online scams and attacks”.
And, we looked into the the weird world of ‘puffer jacket porn’ accounts.
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