Moscow Subway To Use Special Devices To Read Data On Passengers' Phones 163
dryriver writes "'The head of police for Moscow's subway system has said stations will soon be equipped with devices that can read the data on the mobile telephones of passengers. In the July 29 edition of Izvestia, Moscow Metro police chief Andrei Mokhov said the device would be used to help locate stolen mobile phones. Mokhov said the devices have a range of about 5 meters and can read the SIM card. If the card is on the list of stolen phones, the system automatically sends information to the police. The time and place of the alert can be matched to closed-circuit TV in stations. Izvestia reported that 'according to experts, the devices can be used more widely to follow all passengers without exception.' Mokhov said it was illegal to track a person without permission from the authorities, but that there was no law against tracking the property of a company, such as a SIM card.' What is this all about? Is it really about detecting stolen phones/SIM cards, or is that a convenient 'cover story' for eavesdropping on people's private smartphone data while they wait to ride the subway? Also — if this scheme goes ahead, how long will it be before the U.S., Europe and other territories employ devices that do this, too?"
Tin-foil... (Score:5, Funny)
...pockets. Coming to your next pair of pants.
in soviet russia (Score:5, Funny)
trains track you
Re:note to self. (Score:5, Funny)
In America the subway runs on tracks... (Score:3, Funny)
In post-Soviet Russia, trackers run on subway!
And in the new James Bond movie . . . (Score:4, Funny)
I can't wait to see how James Bond gets around this one.
Re:Turn off phone in subway. (Score:2, Funny)
You can't. The NSA already developed a way to keep mobiles active even when they are turned off.