FBI Documents on Wi-Fi Interception Devices
| Tracking # |
1349821-000 |
| Submitted | March 17, 2016 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Derek Mitch
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
### Background ###
This request seeks records regarding the acquisition, possession, and use of wi-fi interception devices.
Wi-fi interception devices intercept a wide-range of data from nearby smartphones, such as social media passwords, emails, Dropbox contents, the phone's previous locations, contact list, photos, internet browsing history, and technical details related to the phone itself, such as its MAC address, model, and operating system. A media report on these devices can be found here: https://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-boxes-that-can-steal-your-social-media-and-dropbox-passwords-for-the-cops
One of these wi-fi interception devices is “InterApp,” made by Israeli company Rayzone Group: https://www.scribd.com/doc/291798648/En-brochure-Interapp
Another is “WINT,” made by Wintego: https://www.scribd.com/doc/291798739/1321-Wintego-Brochure
And a third is “Mabit,” an “app and cloud interception system,” from Israeli company Magen 100: http://i-hls.com/2015/02/israeli-system-intercepts-cloud-stored-data/
These companies market wi-fi interception devices to law enforcement, as well as other types of government agencies.
Recommended places to deploy wi-fi interception devices include borders, busy city areas, and large public events, according to Magen 100's website: http://www.ma-gen.com/. Product brochures claim that the devices require minimal training to use, and leave no forensic traces on monitored smartphones.
### Request ###
Please provide copies of the following records created from January 1, 2010 to the present:
- All policies, guidelines, rules, practices, or legal analysis regarding the use of wi-fi interception devices, including those concerning:
1) restrictions on when, how, and against whom they may be used
2) what information can be acquired using this technology
3) the possibility of disruption of lawful communications
4) protections for non-targets
5) limitations on retention and use of collected data
6) when a warrant or other legal process must be obtained
7) deployment of this technology in investigations conducted with other agencies or at the request of other agencies
8) disclosure of information acquired using this technology to other agencies, and
9) when the existence and use of wi-fi interception devices may be revealed to the public, criminal defendants, or judges
- Records regarding the acquisition of wi-fi interception devices, including invoices, purchases orders, contracts, loan agreements, procurement documents (but not limited to solicitation documents or notices of proposed contracts, proposed bids, unsolicited proposals, and/or documents justifying contracting without full and open competition), correspondence with companies providing the devices (including, but not limited to Rayzone Group, Wintego, and Magen 100), and similar documents.
- All applications submitted to state or federal courts for search warrants or orders authorizing use of wi-fi interception devices in criminal investigations, as well as any affidavits or other documents filed in support thereof, warrants or orders, denials of warrant or orders, and returns of warrants associated with those applications. If any responsive records are sealed, please provide a record containing the date and docket number for each sealed document.
- Records reflecting the docket numbers, or, if unavailable, other identifying information, of all criminal cases in which law enforcement officers sought permission to use, were authorized to use, or in fact used a wi-fi interception device as part of the underlying investigation.
- Records reflecting the number of investigations in which wi-fi interception devices have been used, and the number of those investigations that have resulted in prosecutions.
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 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Derek Mitch
From: Sobonya, David P. (RMD) (FBI)
Dear Mr. Mitch,
The FBI has received your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOIPA) request and it will be forwarded to Initial Processing for review. Your request will be processed under the provisions of FOIPA and a response will be mailed to you at a later date.
Requests for fee waivers and expedited processing will be addressed once your request has been assigned an FOIPA request number. You will receive written notification of the FBI’s decision.
Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy is available at http://www.fbi.gov<http://www.fbi.gov>/, http://www.fbi.gov/foia/ or http://www.justice.gov/oip. If you require additional assistance please contact us at foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov.
Thank you,
David P. Sobonya
Public Information Officer/GIS
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO (540) 868-4593
Direct (540) 868-4286
Fax (540) 868-4391/4997
-
~WRD000
From: Early, Holly H. (RMD) (FBI)
Dear Mr. Mitch,
The FBI has received your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOIPA) request and it will be forwarded to Initial Processing for review. Your request will be processed under the provisions of FOIPA and a response will be mailed to you at a later date.
Requests for fee waivers and expedited processing will be addressed once your request has been assigned an FOIPA request number. You will receive written notification of the FBI’s decision.
Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy is available at http://www.fbi.gov<http://www.fbi.gov>/, http://www.fbi.gov/foia/ or http://www.justice.gov/oip. If you require additional assistance please contact the Public Information Officer.
Thank you,
Holly Early
Public Liaison/GIS
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>
Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia
Please check the status of your request online at http://www.fbi.gov/foia by clicking on the CHECK STATUS OF YOUR FOI/PA REQUEST under the FOIA INDEX located on the right side of the page. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.
-
~WRD000
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 17, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #1347394-000.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: FOIPAQUESTIONS
Dear Mr. Mitch,
Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at http://www.fbi.gov and access the (Freedom of Information Act) link at the bottom of the page, or http://www.fbi.gov/foia, or https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.
Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request
If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.
FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON April 27, 2016
Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]
FOIPA:
Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:
FOIPA:
1234567-000
Case Type:
FOIPA
Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)
The FBI’s FOIPA Program is searching the FBI’s indices for potentially responsive documents.
You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.
Thank you,
Holly Early
Public Liaison/GIS
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>
Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at http://www.fbi.gov/foia
Please check the status of your request online at http://www.fbi.gov/foia by clicking on the CHECK STATUS OF YOUR FOI/PA REQUEST under the FOIA INDEX located on the right side of the page. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.
-
~WRD000
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
The request has been rejected, with the agency stating that the information or document(s) requested are exempt from disclosure.
Files
pages