Encryption !!!

[emt587]

Now whatever your take on it maybe, yes it has its place and need like everything in Life. But, why are so many routine calls being encrypted? I can Understand a real sensitive operation( EVEN then You can use A cellphone or even the Mobile Data Terminals),but encrypting everything seems over kill not to mention that if you want to know Info on anything now a days It seems that all You have to do is fill out a FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT REQUEST. and bingo 9 out of 10 times you get the info You want. Listening to a Scanner is just another way to get INFO. YEAH I am NOSEY SO WHAT. "WATCHING THE WATCHERS" and they don't like it lol

Remember how the Late Bill Cheek was Harassed when he built his data slicer to listen to MDTS,

just my own 2cents and I don't condone doing anything illegal

 

[n5ims]

How about looking at the issue by comparing your wireless internet connection to your local PD's radio system. You probably have your internet router configured to be encrypted 100% of the time instead of having it open and in the clear except when you go to secure sites (where encryption is automatic for those sites that use HTTPS - that S stands for Secure)? Why is that?

Shouldn't your neighbors have the ability to monitor your internet traffic and be nosey about what you do (they should have a right to see if you go to sites that they wouldn't approve of and perhaps be a threat to their children, right)? Sure, this is a real stretch (we're sure you don't visit those kind of sites anyway), but it's easier to configure the router to be encrypted at all times and there are other valid reasons for securing your router than just to prevent your neighbors from snooping.

Shouldn't your local PD be able to secure their communications like you do? While you have extra protections for your internet traffic where extra security is necessary (like when paying your bills or checking on your bank records, credit cards, etc.) by switching to a secure connection (generally automatic thanks to the sites that require it switching for you), your local PD doesn't have such automatic protections available. Sure, they can switch channels to one that's encrypted for that special traffic (but this isn't automatic) or toggle between clear and secure modes (also not automatic) but because it's a manual process, it wouldn't be done 100% of the time (and we're sure you would complain if they broadcast in the clear your rap sheet and your buddies called you on it).

I do agree that proper practice should call for normal dispatch traffic be broadcast in the clear and only sensitive traffic (like SWAT Operations) be encrypted. But there's lots of grey area in what they routinely do over the radio.

 

[norcalscan]

But my house wifi network is not paid for by anyone except myself. I know what traffic goes across my network at home and if something happens that I do not approve of, I can either shut it down right away, or bring it up at the dinner table for a family discussion. But when I go to a coffee shop with public wifi that is paid for by others, then I am very aware of what traffic I need to have secured or not since others may or may not be listening in, and switch to that secure traffic when needed. Law Enforcement operate in the coffee shop scenario, not in the private home scenario. The radio network for the police department is our home wifi network, and the community served by the department are the owners of the network. The community understands at times the dept needs to go secure, but there are times where the community may need to have a family discussion over dinner, usually taking place in city hall, or letters to the editor of the local newspaper, etc. Accountability.

 

[ShyFlyer]

But, why are so many routine calls being encrypted?

There's really no one reason why an agency goes 100% encrypted. Some agencies are just paranoid that every criminal out there has a scanner and will evade capture. For others, it may be because of a "hostile" relationship with the news media (i.e. reporters interfering with investigations on scene). I'm willing to bet there are a few agencies that weren't considering any encryption until some slick salesman sold them on it.

Fortunately, the system I monitor at home isn't fully encrypted, though is might as well had been since it's ProVoice. Cooler heads prevailed and only the super sensitive stuff (SWAT, Vice, Narc) is encrypted, as it should be. NCIC isn't, which is surprising to me.

 

[K5MPH]

There's really no one reason why an agency goes 100% encrypted. Some agencies are just paranoid that every criminal out there has a scanner and will evade capture. For others, it may be because of a "hostile" relationship with the news media (i.e. reporters interfering with investigations on scene). I'm willing to bet there are a few agencies that weren't considering any encryption until some slick salesman sold them on it.

Fortunately, the system I monitor at home isn't fully encrypted, though is might as well had been since it's ProVoice. Cooler heads prevailed and only the super sensitive stuff (SWAT, Vice, Narc) is encrypted, as it should be. NCIC isn't, which is surprising to me.

You pretty close on the salesman stuff and dont forget some one paying for the lease on the Encryption the tax payer......

 

[Rred]

If you encrypt everything, all the time, then you don't have to worry about forgetting to enable encryption when it is really needed. Or, about some scanner person getting all freaked out because "Oh wow, they're encrypting now! Something must be going on!".

"all You have to do is fill out a FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT REQUEST. and bingo 9 out of 10 times you get the info You want. "
I don't think you've filed many such requests, or you'd know that government agencies, even the county and city ones, often will tell you "Sure, we can give you that, it will cost you $10,000 for the copying fees and the personnel required. How would you like to pay?"
You'll hear that exact complaint from any number of major reputable press organizations, among others. And if you file a FOIA request with any law enforcement agency, you may wind up paying all of that, only to receive a hundred pages with ██████████ and ██████████ redacted all over every line on every page. But by all means, feel free to try it if you haven't had that problem yet.

You don't think some agency should be allowed encryption? OK, start with your local ward leader or assemblyman, and get the encryption banned. Simple enough. Unless, they disagree with you.

 

[kayn1n32008]

You pretty close on the salesman stuff and dont forget some one paying for the lease on the Encryption the tax payer......

What 'lease on encryption' are you refering to?