PPSA Submits FOIA Requests Seeking Transparency on Use of Cell-Site Simulators

​The Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability recently submitted a series of FOIA requests to law enforcement and intelligence agencies seeking critical information on how the agencies handle data obtained through the use of cell-site simulators, also known as Stingrays or Dirtboxes, which impersonate cell towers and collect sensitive data from wireless devices.  Specifically, PPSA submitted requests to DOJ, CIA, DHS, NSA, and ODNI. 
 
These requests focus on what happens after the government collects this data. As PPSA’s requests state, PPSA “seeks information on how, once the agency obtains information or data from a cell-site simulator, the information obtained is used.” We are particularly interested in learning about the agencies’ policies for data retention, usage, and deletion, especially for data collected from individuals who are not the target of surveillance.
 
PPSA has long been concerned with the invasive nature of these surveillance tools, which capture not only targeted individuals' data but also data from anyone nearby. As we previously stated in a 2021 FOIA request, “this technology gives the government the ability to conduct sweeping dragnets of metadata, location, and even text messages from anyone within a geofenced area.”
 
These FOIA requests specifically demand transparency about what happens after the government collects such data. We seek records regarding policies on data retention, use, and destruction, particularly for information unrelated to surveillance targets. As our requests state, “PPSA wishes to know what policies govern such use and what policies, if any, are in place to protect the civil liberties and privacy of those whose data might happen to get swept up in a cell-site simulator’s data collection activities.”
 
As we previously highlighted, Stingrays represent a significant intrusion into personal privacy, and we are committed to holding the government accountable for its use of such tools. By pursuing these requests, we aim to inform the public about the scope and potential risks of the agencies’ surveillance activities, and to push for greater safeguards over Americans’ private information. PPSA will continue to push towards transparency, and we will keep the public informed of our efforts.