# Virginia State Police Is Using Software to Track Cellphone Location Data  ## Metadata - Author:: [[VPM.org]] - Full Title:: Virginia State Police Is Using Software to Track Cellphone Location Data - Category: #articles - URL: https://vpm.org/news/articles/38757/virginia-state-police-is-using-software-to-track-cellphone-location-data ## Highlights > Virginia State Police officers are using software that allows them to track cellphone location data without a warrant, raising alarm among privacy advocates. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw02mee6x3n0c9p0dfkx88)) > Fog Reveal allows police to see cellphone location data that was initially collected by smartphone apps ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw0mwdwd3k47w3e0dnd9ek)) > a 90-day “pattern of activity” that shows where a device traveled ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw0ytykp0j0pxebjnp55a0)) > The software uses data collected by apps that’s sold to digital data brokers. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw15k27z47s5gram3pyjyv)) > VSP and Loudoun County-based [Fog Data Science](https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_va/S6526398) maintain that the data is anonymous and isn’t tied to specific people. But Adam Schwartz, a senior attorney at the digital privacy nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, said it’s “child’s play” for police to figure out the identity of any given cellphone user based on their unique “pattern of life,” including the places they live, sleep and work. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw26dejmnxeqpwpc6wxdzq)) > Geller said access to the tool is limited to a handful of special agents and supervisors in VSP’s high-tech crimes division. A policy governing its use is currently “waiting for final approval by executive leadership.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw3rq8xhbjpk4y4c2ej6ce)) > software “has yet to generate any successful investigative leads or evidence” in any VSP case. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw4hq9bex97g1nav8gkx20)) > couldn’t point to anything in the product itself to prevent law enforcement from freely using the feature ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw5rqjjma6mz6pmvbxnk75)) # Virginia State Police Is Using Software to Track Cellphone Location Data  ## Metadata - Author:: [[VPM.org]] - Full Title:: Virginia State Police Is Using Software to Track Cellphone Location Data - Category: #articles - URL: https://vpm.org/news/articles/38757/virginia-state-police-is-using-software-to-track-cellphone-location-data ## Highlights > Virginia State Police officers are using software that allows them to track cellphone location data without a warrant, raising alarm among privacy advocates. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw02mee6x3n0c9p0dfkx88)) > Fog Reveal allows police to see cellphone location data that was initially collected by smartphone apps ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw0mwdwd3k47w3e0dnd9ek)) > a 90-day “pattern of activity” that shows where a device traveled ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw0ytykp0j0pxebjnp55a0)) > The software uses data collected by apps that’s sold to digital data brokers. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw15k27z47s5gram3pyjyv)) > VSP and Loudoun County-based [Fog Data Science](https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_va/S6526398) maintain that the data is anonymous and isn’t tied to specific people. But Adam Schwartz, a senior attorney at the digital privacy nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, said it’s “child’s play” for police to figure out the identity of any given cellphone user based on their unique “pattern of life,” including the places they live, sleep and work. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw26dejmnxeqpwpc6wxdzq)) > Geller said access to the tool is limited to a handful of special agents and supervisors in VSP’s high-tech crimes division. A policy governing its use is currently “waiting for final approval by executive leadership.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw3rq8xhbjpk4y4c2ej6ce)) > software “has yet to generate any successful investigative leads or evidence” in any VSP case. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw4hq9bex97g1nav8gkx20)) > couldn’t point to anything in the product itself to prevent law enforcement from freely using the feature ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gpnw5rqjjma6mz6pmvbxnk75))