ACLU digs into mobile location privacy with huge police records request

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/08/aclu-digs-into-mobile-location-privacy-with-huge-police-records-request.html

The civil advocacy group has coordinated 34 of its offices to send 375 public records requests to police and law enforcement agencies across the nation, requesting comprehensive information about how police obtain and use cellphone locations and other Internet data to hunt criminals.

"All too often, the government is taking advantage of outdated privacy laws to get its hands on this valuable private information by demanding it without a warrant," the ACLU said in a statement on its website. "The public has a right to know how and under what circumstances their location information is being accessed by the government –- and that is exactly what we hope our information requests will uncover."

**Opinion**

Agreed! Props at the ACLU for this.

The ACLU created an online map that names all the law enforcement agencies to which it sent request. In California alone, the group sent the request to more than 50 agencies. A copy of the request is posted in PDF form here @ http://www.aclunc.org/news/press_releases/asset_upload_file201_10352.pdf.