FITUG e.V. Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft

Blocking cell phones at protests?

------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 08:07:27 -0600 From: Ben Masel <bmasel@tds.net> Send reply to: bmasel@tds.net To: risks@csl.sri.com, cryptography@c2.net Subject: Blocking cell phones at protests?

[I have no idea if this is true, so I would take it with a grain of salt. In particular, I wonder about whether the ability to actually do what has been suggested even actually exists. On the other hand, developing technologies to do things like this is eminently feasible, and a discussion on technologies like it might be interesting. --Perry]

As police moved in to shut down the Weedstock Festival before the Memorial Day weekend, cell phones used by the organizers ceased to function. These were on systems from various providers.

Phones belonging to "anonymous" attendees, and major media continued to function. I therefore presume monitoring beforehand.

Recalling Police complaints in the media about how well World Bank/IMF protesters were organized with cell phones, I'm wondering if this was a rehearsal for selectively shutting demonstrator communications at upcoming protests at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

I'm seeking info on how this might have been accomplished at the technical end, and as to the legalities. Ben Masel, Madison WI bmasel@tds.net

Weedstock.com: http://weedstock.com coverage: http://www.freedomforum.org/news/2000/05/2000-05-30-02.asp

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