London police use 'quick' cellphone data extraction system against suspects

[Newsjock]

Source: Computerworld UK

The Metropolitan Police has rolled out a mobile device data extraction system to allow officers to extract data "within minutes" from suspects' phones while they are in custody.

The capability would be particularly useful if the police force were to face a similar situation to the riots last August, which were reportedly coordinated mainly via BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). At the time, there appeared to be confusion around whether or not police could access the data from rioters’ phones, although BlackBerry owner RIM promised to co-operate fully with the police.

The new system being used by the Met is Radio Tactics' ACESO data extraction system across 16 boroughs in the capital.

... Around 300 Met officers will be trained to use the system. It is not clear at this stage as to what will happen to the extracted data off a suspect's mobile if he or she is not charged with an offence after being arrested.

Read more: http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/public-sector/3357807/met-police-uses-quick-mobile-data-extraction-system-against-suspects/

[RC]

1. Oh, goodie.

We can now add this to the random street "Stop and frisk" procedure, to make sure we citizens are still law abiding.

[think]

2. This is already being done in some states here in the US

Michigan Police Use Device to Download Cellphone Data; ACLU Objects
By KI MAE HEUSSNER (@kheussner)
April 21, 2011

A high-tech gadget that can quickly download information from a cellphone is at the center of a controversy that's pitting civil liberties advocates against state police in Michigan.

Since 2008, the ACLU of Michigan has been petitioning the Michigan State Police to turn over information about their use of so-called "data extraction devices" (or DEDs). Manufactured by Cellebrite, a mobile forensics and data services company headquartered in Israel, the devices can connect to cellphones and, even bypassing passwords, retrieve phone numbers, text messages, call history, photos and video.

The issue came to a head this week, after the ACLU published a letter it sent to the state police, demanding transparency and saying misuse of the device could be a Fourth Amendment violation. Michigan State Police issued a statement Wednesday, claiming that "it only uses the DEDs if a search warrant is obtained or if the person possessing the mobile device gives consent."

But civil liberties advocates say that law enforcement's response is insufficient.

ACLU: We Have 'Credible Information' That Device Was Misused

Complete article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/michigan-police-cellphone-data-extraction-devices-aclu-objects/story?id=13428178#.T7UkWsUnIVQ