“Leahy and Grassley raised questions about recent news reports asserting that federal law enforcement agencies have deployed cell phone tracking technology received from intelligence agencies,” a statement on Leahy’s website issued on Tuesday announcing the letter, said.
“Specifically, the lawmakers are asking about the legal and privacy implications of this technology,” the statement added.
The two Senators asked the DOJ officials which US government entities use the technology, the policies in place to protect privacy of third parties whose information might be collected by these devices and the legal process required prior to their use.
“DOJ’s failure to answer these questions has heightened our concerns,” the Senators stated.
Leahy and Grassley have also raised privacy concerns about other forms of technology used by US law enforcement agencies, including the use of a national database to track the movement of vehicles around the United States, and the reported use of radar technology enabling law enforcement agencies to track the movements of private citizens inside their homes.
