Seattle WiFi Tracking Network Monitors the Publics Present, Past Locations and MoreMadison Ruppert Tracking smartphones with Wi-Fi enabled has become somewhat common. One company tracked pedestrians around London via high-tech trashcans and the practice of tracking shoppers via Wi-Fi is now widespread. However, the mesh network purchased by Seattle police goes beyond just tracking location. It can find what applications have been downloaded, what type of device it is, the devices IP address and both current and past locations of the device. The network, which police point out has not been turned on yet, can capture the information about the past 1,000 times a device attempted to connect to a Wi-Fi signal, according to Raw Story. While the Seattle Police Department maintains that the network is not being used, KIRO notes that the network appears to be online, something which the department could not explain. The mesh network is comprised of 160 wireless access point mounted on poles around Seattle. Every time a devices Wi-Fi antennae searches for a Wi-Fi signal and one of the access points recognizes it, the system can store that data. The network was purchased with a $2.6 million Department of Homeland Security grant. Once these kinds of tools are in place, they dont go away, Brendan Kiley of The Stranger said to KIRO. Even if we assume that the mesh network was installed by good people for good reasons, theres no reason to believe that the people controlling the network in the future will use it for the public good. Kiley called for a serious public conversation about the network, along with clear rules about how the technology can be used. Earlier this year, it was noted that the Seattle Police Department was establishing a large network of surveillance cameras around the city. We believe that people should be free to move about without having the government track their movements unless there really is reason to believe theyre engaged in some criminal activity, Debelak said. However, city council member Bruce Harrell said that it is necessary for the police department to collect some of the information. Harrell said that if something like the Boston bombing were to occur, the police would want to capture information about the people that were there. He also said that the department has to go to the public before they hit the on button. Yet KIRO noted that the network shows up online in public places usually as intersections in the city such as, 4thPike, 4thUniversity and 3rdUnion. Id love to hear your opinion, take a look at your story tips and even your original writing if you would like to get it published. I am also available for interviews on radio, television or any other format. Please email me at Admin@EndtheLie.com Please support our work and help us start to pay contributors by doing your shopping through our Amazon link or check out some must-have products at our store. This article first appeared at End the Lie. 