Senator Becker re-introduces law enforcement radio encryption bill (SB 719)

[GROL]

I was just thinking that an important fact is being overlooked. The US Constitution's main objective is to restrain government so as to not violate the rights of citizens. The First Amendment did not establish who was the press. One of the First Amendment objectives is to prevent the establishment of a government run press, just as it prevents the establishment of a government religion. The colonists experienced both and wanted protections from it.

 

[GROL]

They are not given access just because they are media. The US Air Force will grant access to anyone they want to have fly with them. No media credential required. That is a weak argument.

Media do not have access to the White House because they are media. They are granted access and many of them have had credentials revoked.

Oops Some how to was thinking the
Thunderbirds. But the Navy would do the same.

 

[scannerboy02]

I was issued the second California Highway Patrol press credential ever issued by the department. After having and renewing that credential for many years the CHP stopped issuing press credentials after being sued by someone who didn't have a CHP credential for a violation of P.C.409.5(d) when they were kicked out of an incident scene. At that time the CHP told me (and many other journalist) to make my own press credential and carry it with me as official identification. Since that time I have never heard of another law enforcement agency still issuing press credentials.

I have no idea why this thing keeps showing my post as a quote. This is the second time it has done it and I can't seem to undo it.

 

[iowajm780]

Yep. One idea I had was encryption handled on the dispatch side of things because stuff like license plate numbers aren’t protected info but they info they are attached to is, so the officer can call in a plate, the dispatcher can enable encryption on their end to send the return to the officer, then disable it (yeah, yeah, I’m sure they would all complain that they are busy enough ).

The problem with CHP is even that’s not entirely accurate. I’ve compared what they said to what’s in the CAD and they don’t always matchup or can be serious delays, though I would like if it was used by more agencies.

The dispatcher should not have to deal with turning on and off encryption when returning a stupid plate. Keep the encryption on full time so they don't have to deal with it. Same with encryption on officers radios, none of this enable switch when necessary. Strap it so they don't have to worry if they are secure, missing a clear alert tone or whatever alerting is on their model of radio.

 

[scannerboy02]

Looks like the bill was referred to the Committee on Public Safety yesterday.

I have spoken with a few people whos organizations are working to support this bill and I have been told that if this bill doesn't pass this may be the last attempt for the foreseeable future. The bottom line is, if you want any hope for being able to monitor your local public safety radio traffic this bill needs to pass, without this law public safety agencies will be allowed to do whatever they want. The hope behind this law is that most agencies will make the decision to not have to deal with it and just keep primary radio traffic unencrypted and find alternative ways to pass PII, not every agency will do this but the hope and feeling is many will. Without this law many will likely choose a path to encryption at some point.

Want the best possibility for being able to continue hearing radio traffic?, support the bill!
Don't care what happens?, don't support the bill!

 

[KevinC]

This may or may not be on-topic.

I implemented a new radio system on the Texas/Mexico border. The sheriff was talking about encryption but was hesitant to do so since so many locals monitor and assist them, but he really wanted an encrypted TG. He assumed it was all or nothing, I told him just encrypt your tac TG and that’s what they did. Dispatch in the clear and tac encrypted.

Knowledge is power.

 

[scannerboy02]

This may or may not be on-topic.

I implemented a new radio system on the Texas/Mexico border. The sheriff was talking about encryption but was hesitant to do so since so many locals monitor and assist them, but he really wanted an encrypted TG. He assumed it was all or nothing, I told him just encrypt your tac TG and that’s what they did. Dispatch in the clear and tac encrypted.

Knowledge is power.

Exactly, while this does add a bit more work for officers and dispatchers it is achievable with proper policy and training. It works VERY well in my city right now.

This is just one of many alternate methods of passing PII.

It's important to remember it's not the job of the people to make the job of the government easy, the burden lies with the government.

It's also important to remember no matter what 'side' you're on you need to reach out to your elected representatives and make your opinion known. This is your (perhaps last) opportunity to have input on the issue of radio encryption, if you don't get involved you can't complain when it doesn't go your way.

 

[W2JEL]

I worked for 30 years in EMS and was around when HIPAA was introduced. It was a nightmare. We would get calls from long term care facilities to transport a patient to the ED and you would not believe the trouble we had just to get them to give us the patient's name. The staff would say we can't give you any patient HX or demographic due to HIPAA. Took about a year of training and explaining to get them to understand.

 

[scannerboy02]

"SB-719: Law enforcement agencies: radio communications has been Set FOR Hearing ON 28-MAR-23 9:30 a.m."

 

[jland138]

Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, introduces new encryption legislation

New proposed legislation aimed at increasing transparency in public radio communications to the public has been introduced by state Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo.

www.smdailyjournal.com

 

[rrobinso84]

I think the solution is somewhere in the middle. Train everyone to protect personal info by using an alternate means, but leave the bulk of comms in the clear. And protect the really sensitive stiff (like SWAT, stake out, etc.). Hoping we will get there!

 

[mmckenna]

Looks like the bill was essentially neutered in its latest rewrite.

Compare Versions - SB-719 Law enforcement agencies: radio communications. Law enforcement agencies: radio communications.

"Real Time" was removed
"Duly authorized media" was removed.

Requirement to protect PII/CJI at all times and without exception included.

Online streaming, or requesting recordings "for a reasonable fee" is still included.

 

[scannerboy02]

Looks like it was amended again after the committee meeting yesterday. It's back to looking more like the bill from last year, that didn't pass.

 

[mmckenna]

Looks like it was amended again after the committee meeting yesterday. It's back to looking more like the bill from last year, that didn't pass.

It wasn't popular back then, and I doubt it'll do any better. It glosses over a number of issues without offering a solution, other than the recording option.

Politicians should not be trying to write technical oriented things like this without some help.

 

[scannerboy02]

It wasn't popular back then, and I doubt it'll do any better.

I tend to agree.

It glosses over a number of issues without offering a solution, other than the recording option.

As do many laws, thankfully that's what the court system is for.

Politicians should not be trying to write technical oriented things like this without some help.

Again thankfully they do have help with this one.

The bigger issue is getting other politicians to understand it. Lots of work being done behind the scenes with that.

 

[mmckenna]

Again thankfully they do have help with this one.

Doesn't appear to be working yet.

 

[BryanTheRed]

I worked for 30 years in EMS and was around when HIPAA was introduced. It was a nightmare. We would get calls from long term care facilities to transport a patient to the ED and you would not believe the trouble we had just to get them to give us the patient's name. The staff would say we can't give you any patient HX or demographic due to HIPAA. Took about a year of training and explaining to get them to understand.

Yes! Our legal department finally had to explain when calling in certain patients to the ED MD via radio that they could give out names via radio as it pertained to the immediate care of the patient (ED was able to pull up history on patient and expedite care upon arrival, think STEMI and stroke care).

 

[jland138]

The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) has come out as "Active Oppose" to SB 719 this week.

https://porac.org/wp-content/uploads/PORAC-Bill-Chart-March.pdf

I believe they were neutral to SB 1000 last year

 

[Peter_SD911]

Why wait for Sacramento to pass some watered down law...
Fact is all this encryption has a back-door, and none of it is a protected state secret.

You can bet our friends in China (with the co-operation of Motorola) already have those back-doors. Moto and Hytera have a sexy past.

What's keeping the CCP from placing all that decryption technology on a simple SDR style chip or program...and flooding the USA radio market with cheap simple encryption code buster?

You really think the FCC could stop them? If our own govt can break the code, then YOU KNOW China can break the code already. Don't even start with "It's against the ECPA Bluto..."
China doesn't care about the FCC or the ECPA.

"Hurry Hurry Folks...get your 100 percent genuine Baofeng DE-10000 DecrypTOR."
Only $29.99 on ebay, Amazon and Alibaba.

Scan Sexy...
...and everybody WangChung Tonight!

(Cue the "smart guys!")

 

[d119]

Why wait for Sacramento to pass some watered down law...
Fact is all this encryption has a back-door, and none of it is a protected state secret.

You can bet our friends in China (with the co-operation of Motorola) already have those back-doors. Moto and Hytera have a sexy past.

What's keeping the CCP from placing all that decryption technology on a simple SDR style chip or program...and flooding the USA radio market with cheap simple encryption code buster?

You really think the FCC could stop them? If our own govt can break the code, then YOU KNOW China can break the code already. Don't even start with "It's against the ECPA Bluto..."
China doesn't care about the FCC or the ECPA.

"Hurry Hurry Folks...get your 100 percent genuine Baofeng DE-10000 DecrypTOR."
Only $29.99 on ebay, Amazon and Alibaba.

Scan Sexy...
...and everybody WangChung Tonight!

(Cue the "smart guys!")

Are there not federal level laws that prevent unauthorized decryption of radio signals? Think DirecTV and Dish Network. What's the difference?