Federal Agents Call Their Use Of "Stingray" Surveillance Classified

Newly released documents show federal agents using cellphone surveillance technology called some of their work “classified” even though Justice Department officials have said such methods are normal court-approved law enforcement, not spying or intelligence tactics, reports the Wall Street Journal. The "classified" designation suggests a mingling of law enforcement with national-security and espionage work—two areas usually kept distinct to protect Americans’ privacy. It raises fears about the secrecy surrounding a form of digital surveillance that has drawn criticism from civil-liberties groups. The documents were provided by the U.S. Marshals Service in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the American Civil Liberties Union. They show the Marshals Service paid more than $10 million from 2009 to 2014 to buy machines known as cell-site simulators, also called Stingrays or “dirtboxes,’’ that scan surrounding cellphones to hunt for suspects.