The FBI has switched to the use of mobile phone masts to determine the location of suspects to find out. Previously used the organisation gps-trackers, but this shall not, without the court order be used.
This was revealed by a lawsuit against an alleged drug dealer, in which data of mobile phone masts was invoked as evidence against the defendant. The data were obtained without a court order. Was previously in the same trial, the use of gps data as evidence rejected, because the FBI is not a court order. The gsm data should, however, be used.
According to the U.s. government, there is a difference between the use of gps data and gsm data: the use of a gps tracker is seen as a search, where the consent of a judge is necessary. Localization via gsm masts is not considered a search is given, which means the court order is not necessary.
It is likely that, in the absence of the necessity of a court order to locate and secure by means of mobile phone masts also for other suspects is being used. Of many suspects in the secret of the location tracking, but the FBI had recently, about three thousand gps trackers to remove because there is no court order for. The disadvantage of the use of mobile phone masts is that the suspect’s cell phone at must have and. Also, the location information is less accurate.