Edward Snowden Develops Phone Case to Alert Users if Their Data is Being CompromisedBy Matt Agorist Snowden and Huang revealed their plans for the casevia video link to an event at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The duo showed how the device connects to the phones radio transmitters and alerts the owner when a cellular, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection is being used to share or receive data. According to Snowden and Huangs research, the idea to make such a case was inspired by protecting journalists. Front-line journalists risk their lives to report from conflict regions. Casting a spotlight on atrocities, their updates can alter the tides of war and outcomes of elections. As a result, front-line journalists are high-value targets, and their enemies will spare no expense to silence them. In the past decade, hundreds of journalists have been captured, tortured and killed. These journalists have been reporting in conflict zones, such as Iraq and Syria, or in regions of political instability, such as the Philippines, Mexico, and Somalia. If you have a phone in your pocket thats turned on, a long-lived record of your movements has been created, Snowden said. As a result of the way the cell network functions your device is constantly shouting into the air by means of radio signals a unique identity that validates you to the phone company. And this unique identity is not only saved by that phone company, but it can also be observed as it travels over the air by independent, even more dangerous third parties. This device will act as a kill switch that would pull the phones power supply when it detected radio transmitting after the owner has attempted to turn it off. As Snowden points out,Airplane modeis often ineffective at preventing such communications interception. Turning off radios by entering airplane mode is no defense; for example, on iPhones since iOS 8.2, GPS is active in airplane mode. Furthermore, airplane mode is a soft switchthe graphics on the screen have no essential correlation with the hardware state. Malware packages, peddled by hackers at a price accessible by private individuals, can activate radios without any indication from the user interface; trusting a phone that has been hacked to go into airplane mode is like trusting a drunk person to judge if they are sober enough to drive. While the device is still far from ready for commercial distribution, Snowden and Huang note that they hope this case study will influence how individuals perceive their personal tracking devices they carry around in their pockets also known as cell phones. Over the coming year, we hope to prototype and verify the introspection engines abilities, they write. As the project is run largely through volunteer efforts on a shoestring budget, it will proceed at a pace reflecting the practical limitations of donated time. Judging by how well the news of this device is being received, Snowden and Huang should start a crowdfunding effort. Also, judging by the ever-increasing size and scope of the police and surveillance state this thing needs to be built yesterday. Matt Agorist is the co-founder of TheFreeThoughtProject.com, where this article first appeared. He is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Follow @MattAgorist. So, Im a little confused on this. When your phone is IN this device, and turned ON, can the mo-fos still track where you are at the moment AND listen in on calls? you are not confused. Thank you, Mr. Snowden. We are grateful for your help. Is this a snowjob to buy some time? The message never is get rid of your mind control tracking device. Only ~20% of US adults do not carry a smart phone. 