Two Sergeants from the Mogwadi Police Station in Limpopo have been arrested for the murder. Image: @SAPolice Services
Police can now legally use cellphone spying tools and trackers
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has given the South African Police Services (SAPS) a go-ahead to legally use spying tools and trackers.
Two Sergeants from the Mogwadi Police Station in Limpopo have been arrested for the murder. Image: @SAPolice Services
The South African Police Services (SAPS) has been given a go-ahead to legally use cellphone spying tools and trackers for investigation purposes.
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Police to legally access spying tools and trackers
Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola, on Friday, 19 May 2023, gazetted a five-year exemption from the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act (RICA).
This effectively gives police the right to use a range of what would otherwise be illegal surveillance devices.
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The exemption means the South African Police Service can buy and use signal interception devices to access details about any cellular device in a given area, approval for which previous Justice ministers consistently withheld.
Among these are International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI) catchers, or “grabbers” — eavesdropping devices masquerading as regular cellular towers that harvest data from every mobile device connected to them.
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In simple terms, the police will be able to map the data gathered in this way to a person’s identity, as RICA requires telecommunications service providers to collect identifying information when you sign up.
In addition, the SAPS may use hardware keystroke recorders, night vision and thermal imaging equipment, wiretaps, eavesdropping microphones, miniature video and audio recorders, and location tracking devices.
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Justice Minister gazettes a five-year exemption
Minister Ronald Lamola granted the extension in terms of Section 46(3) of RICA.
It essentially gives the Justice Minister the right to exempt Internet service providers, telecommunications service providers, and law enforcement agencies from specific prohibitions, including the manufacture, possession, and use of the equipment listed above.
However, it states this must be done in consultation with other relevant ministers.
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