Cell Tower Dumps and Geofence Searches (Baltimore Police Department)

Philip Glaser filed this request with the Baltimore Police Department of Baltimore, MD.
Tracking #

MPIA 24-0160
Multi Request Cell Tower Dumps and Geofence Searches
Submitted Jan. 11, 2024
Due Jan. 21, 2024
Est. Completion None
Status
Awaiting Response

Communications

From: Philip Glaser

Subject: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Cell Tower Dumps and Geofence Searches (Baltimore Police Department)

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Materials related to "cell tower dumps" and "geofence" searches as used by this agency in the performance of its responsibilities.

By "cell tower dump," or just "tower dump," I mean the practice of requesting cell phone service providers to disclose identities (or pseudonymous identifiers) of users whose phones were present in a given area at a given time for the purpose of determining potential crime suspects, witnesses, and victims.
By "geofence" search, I mean the equivalent practice as described above, except as applied to third-party cell phone app providers, such as Google, Facebook, and Apple.

Please provide the following records related to these investigative techniques:

- Policy directives, guidance documents, memoranda, and training materials on requesting (whether by warrant, court order, or otherwise), processing, analyzing, and using tower dump and geofence evidence for investigation and/or court. This request also includes materials that describe the application, function, and use of cell tower dumps and geofence searches including emails, handouts, usage policies, PowerPoint presentations, specification documents, or standard operating procedures.
- Records detailing use of "CAST", "CASTViz", or other cell location data analysis tools the agency may use. Please provide the same for geofence data analysis tools the agency may use.
- Data retention guidelines or policies, data security policies, data security specifications, privacy impact assessments, security audits, or other materials evaluating or guiding the security of cell tower dumps and geofence searches or the privacy of the data involved.
- Contracts or agreements with cell phone service providers (for example, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) for acquiring data, whether specifically for tower dumps or other purposes (for example, cell phone call records or historical/real-time tracking)
- Contracts or agreements with cell phone app data holders, such as Google, Facebook, and Apple.
- Contracts or agreements with cell phone data analysis providers and cell phone data analysis software vendors (for example, "CellHawk" and "Cellebrite").
- Records relating to the funding for above contracts or agreements.

This includes any correspondence between any staff at this agency with any other organization or vendor relevant to the use of the aforementioned technology or program, including records related to meetings or follow-up actions with any vendors, companies, or other private entities marketing this technology for immigration, intelligence, law enforcement, or any use.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Philip Glaser

From: Baltimore Police Department

Subject: Acknowledgement MPIA 24-0160

Email

Dear Philip Glaser:

This is an acknowledgement of your request below, for public information, submitted to the Document Compliance Unit (“DCU”) of the Baltimore Police Department (“BPD”). Your request is governed by the Maryland Public Information Act (“PIA”), Maryland Code, General Provisions Article (“GP”), Sections 4-101 et seq. DCU will process your request promptly. However, our response may take longer than ten (10) working days, the reasons for which may include the scope of your request, the type and volume of potentially responsive records, and the nature of the search, review, and preparation that is required. In any event, DCU will respond to your request within thirty (30) days. GP § 4-203.

DCU will contact you with the availability of records and the possible costs associated with this request, as soon as the information is made available by the Custodian of Records. Likewise, if DCU and/or the Custodian of Records need you to clarify your request, DCU will contact you promptly.
Your request has been assigned to Julie Hallam . The DCU staff receive overwhelming number of requests a month and we are working diligently to respond to each and every request as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience; response to document requests may take longer than normal.

Please refer to tracking # MPIA 24-0160 in any subsequent correspondence pertaining to this matter. All follow up correspondence should be made in writing and submitted to the DCU’s e-mail: DCU@baltimorepolice.org<mailto:DCU@baltimorepolice.org>.

DCU

BPD

From: Baltimore Police Department

Subject: MPIA 24-0160 [Update]

Email

RE: MPIA 24-0160

Good afternoon Phillip Glaser,

Please be advised that the Document Compliance Department of the Baltimore City Police ("DCU") is still working on gathering records to complete your request. DCU will contact you with the availability of records and the possible costs associated with this request, as soon as the information is made available by the Custodian of Records.

Please refer to MPIA 24-0160 in any subsequent correspondence pertaining to this matter. All follow up correspondence should be made in writing and submitted to the DCU's e-mail: DCU@baltimorepolice.org<mailto:DCU@baltimorepolice.org<mailto:DCU@baltimorepolice.org%3cmailto:DCU@baltimorepolice.org>>.

Thank you,
Sade Sesay
[cid:image005.png@01D7271F.F5AD3E40]<http://www.baltimorecity.gov/>
Department of Law
Sade Sesay (she/her)
Legal Specialist, Office of Legal Affairs
Baltimore City Department of Law
100 N. Holliday Street, Suite 101
Baltimore, MD 21202
sade.sesay@baltimorecity.gov<mailto:sade.sesay@baltimorecity.gov>

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