Fears over claims that police hack phones

Police in Scotland have been secretly hacking phones and harvesting data from members of the public, according to the Sunday Herald.

The newspaper reported that new technology was used to override security systems and download all the information held on a mobile phone – without the owner’s knowledge.

A secretive pilot project is said to have seen 18 officers trained to use a device, known as a “kiosk”.

The newspaper described the technology as similar in size to an iPad which can quickly access text messages, photos, encrypted conversations on apps, passwords, contacts and call records.

Police Scotland said: “We have previously trialled the use of kiosks in the east of Scotland for low-level crime, defined as that which appears from the outset to be a case likely to be prosecuted at summary level.”

DCI Brian Stuart added: “Given the explosion of mobile devices in recent years, law enforcement has to be innovative with technology and keep ahead of the curve to ensure the safety of its citizens.”

The pilots, which took place in Edinburgh and Stirling, saw 375 phones and 262 Sim cards accessed during investigations into what Police Scotland called “low-level crime”.

Solicitor Millie Wood of campaign group Privacy International said:“It’s probable that there are a lot of people out there that were part of a trial they didn’t know about.

“Policing is by consent, which means there must be transparency and integrity.”

The FOI response said extracted data was “retained at a local level”, but the paper reported a Police Scotland spokesman said data had not been kept and “there will be no future trials”.

The newspaper said Police Scotland believes it complied with data protection guidelines and only examined phones that were lawfully obtained.