Met Police gets surveillance technology that can monitor mobile phone users

THE LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE has bought surveillance technology that can masquerade as a mobile phone network and allow authorities to intercept communications and gather data about users.

According to the Guardian, the Met bought the technology from a Leeds-based company called Datong, which counts the US Secret Service, the Ministry of Defence and regimes in the Middle East among its customers.

The technology is strictly classified under Government protocol as "Listed X", and can emit a signal over an area of up to an estimated 10 square kilometres. This is capable of forcing hundreds of mobile phones per minute to release their unique IMSI and IMEI identity codes, and then peoples' moves can be tracked in real time.

Although the acquisition follows the London Riots that gripped the UK in August, the Met wouldn't confirm whether the system is used in public order situations, such as during large protests or demonstrations.

Nick Pickles, director of privacy and civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch told the Guardian that the technology could give police the ability to conduct "blanket and indiscriminate" monitoring. µ