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ACLU Says Law Enforcement Officials May Be Tracking Your Cell Phone

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The ACLU is sending 379 requests nationwide to local law enforcement agencies demanding to know if, when, and how they are using cell phone data to track civilian activity.

"The ability to access cell phone location data is an incredibly powerful tool and its use is shrouded in secrecy. The public has a right to know how and under what circumstances their location information is being accessed by the government," said Catherine Crump, staff attorney for the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. "A detailed history of someone's movements is extremely personal and is the kind of information the Constitution protects."

The ACLU says it has filed requests with the following Southland police departments:

- Anaheim Police Department
- Bakersfield Police Department
- Beverly Hills Police Department
- Corona Police Department
- Glendale Police Department
- Huntington Beach Police Department
- Irvine Police Department
- Kern County Sheriff's Department
- Long Beach Police Department
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
- Ontario Police Department
- Orange County Sheriff's Department
- Orange Police Department
- Pasadena Police Department
- Redlands Police Department
- Riverside Police Department

Los Angeles Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore confirmed that the request has been received.

"We're certainly going to respond in the appropriate manner," he said. "We are in the process of preparing the appropriate response."

We also contacted the Los Angeles Police Department, which is "unaware" of any requests that may have been filed at this time.

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