The walls have ears – literally – as new police radar violates expectation of privacy in U.S. homes.
The illustrious battle between American security and privacy continues. Cutting-edge radar implemented by law enforcement agencies is capable of detecting people through walls, but is it constitutional?
RANGE-R is an ultra-sensitive radar device that can detect people and movement up to fifty feet away – and it isn’t deterred by brick and mortar. When used from the outside of a structure, not only can RANGE-R sense a person inside, but also their distance from the device.
Transmit and Receive antennas function as Doppler motion radars, while a rear antenna prevents the device from picking up the movement of its operator. Its continuous wave and algorithm machinery allow RANGE-R to have a broader range than most radar technology and produce results in a matter of seconds. “Designed to increase situation awareness in urban environments for its users, RANGE-R provides vital intelligence necessary to safely undertake a variety of law enforcement and search and rescue operations,” says its website.
This intelligent system is patented by L3 and USA TODAY reports that the RANGE-R has been quietly authorized by over fifty law enforcement agencies in the U.S. since 2012. Agencies like the FBI and U.S. Marshalls are permitted to use the RANGE-R for covert operations after the issue of a search warrant. The device complies with the rules of the Federal Communication Commission for “operation in an urban environment”. RANGE-R is a controlled element under the International Traffic and Arms Regulations and is unsanctioned for public sale or use by unauthorized persons.
Transmit and Receive antennas function as Doppler motion radars, while a rear antenna prevents the device from picking up the movement of its operator. Its continuous wave and algorithm machinery allow RANGE-R to have a broader range than most radar technology and produce results in a matter of seconds. “Designed to increase situation awareness in urban environments for its users, RANGE-R provides vital intelligence necessary to safely undertake a variety of law enforcement and search and rescue operations,” says its website.
This intelligent system is patented by L3 and USA TODAY reports that the RANGE-R has been quietly authorized by over fifty law enforcement agencies in the U.S. since 2012. Agencies like the FBI and U.S. Marshalls are permitted to use the RANGE-R for covert operations after the issue of a search warrant. The device complies with the rules of the Federal Communication Commission for “operation in an urban environment”. RANGE-R is a controlled element under the International Traffic and Arms Regulations and is unsanctioned for public sale or use by unauthorized persons.
RANGE-R was first intended to help soldiers detect and clear landmines in Iraq and Afghanistan, but has now become a popular tool for law enforcement; a recent phenomenon about which the U.S. public has expressed mixed feelings. Many argue that RANGE-R poses a serious threat to privacy and can facilitate violations of the fourth amendment. In 2001, The Supreme Court placed a ban on police use of thermal cameras and radar-based technology on homes without obtaining a search warrant in an effort to preserve citizens’ protection from unreasonable search and seizure. The court stipulated that new technologies would be added to the ban as they were developed, ideally making use of today’s RANGE-R equipment unconstitutional without the previous acquisition of a search warrant.
Last month, the federal court ruled in favor of the U.S. Marshals after their use of radar technology on the home of a man who violated parole, according to reports by USA TODAY. A search warrant was not obtained prior to the operation, however the Marshals’ favorable decision was decided on a probable cause claim. The judges noted in their decision that there is “little doubt that the radar device deployed here will soon generate many questions for this court.” Acting on the reasonable suspicions of a police officer has brought justice to countless Americans, yet the authority to decide what is reasonable can be a dangerous responsibility, one that has also brought many injustices – one of these being the invasion of basic privacies.
While American right to privacy has been a relevant issue since the amplification of security efforts after the September 11th terrorist attacks, the use of RANGE-R also has the potential to save lives. In addition to law enforcement, the use of RANGE-R is authorized for firefighters and Search & Rescue personnel. With the help of this technology, rescue personnel are able to more quickly and easily locate injured civilians in all kinds of difficult terrains and bring them to safety; doing what humans cannot. Despite the faults of those who may misuse this technology, the RANGE-R has the power to perform the impossible – see a victim behind burning walls.
- Lauren Spaunburgh, Vice President
Last month, the federal court ruled in favor of the U.S. Marshals after their use of radar technology on the home of a man who violated parole, according to reports by USA TODAY. A search warrant was not obtained prior to the operation, however the Marshals’ favorable decision was decided on a probable cause claim. The judges noted in their decision that there is “little doubt that the radar device deployed here will soon generate many questions for this court.” Acting on the reasonable suspicions of a police officer has brought justice to countless Americans, yet the authority to decide what is reasonable can be a dangerous responsibility, one that has also brought many injustices – one of these being the invasion of basic privacies.
While American right to privacy has been a relevant issue since the amplification of security efforts after the September 11th terrorist attacks, the use of RANGE-R also has the potential to save lives. In addition to law enforcement, the use of RANGE-R is authorized for firefighters and Search & Rescue personnel. With the help of this technology, rescue personnel are able to more quickly and easily locate injured civilians in all kinds of difficult terrains and bring them to safety; doing what humans cannot. Despite the faults of those who may misuse this technology, the RANGE-R has the power to perform the impossible – see a victim behind burning walls.
- Lauren Spaunburgh, Vice President