NYPD Wants to Jam Cell Phones During Terror Attack

A very disturbing proposed scenario.

This really does not seem very well thought out.  Is the city prepared to defend itself against the numerous law suits where aide was not rendered because legitimate emergency calls were blocked? Does the blockage apply to just the building, the block, the zip code? Like a net there very well might be unintended impacts.  What criteria will be used to invoke this and if inappropriately used or abused will anyone or agency be open to First Amendment prosecution. What certaintities do we have this will not be abused?

I sincerely hope this proposal is not some knee jerk reaction or  based on some epiphany gained in the recent Mumbai attacks were the Indian government is confronting the Pakistani govrment with of all things, cell phone transcripts from the perpetrators while they carried out the attack. If anything the Indian goverment sees this as highly valuable evidence.

Perhaps a more measured approach would be to block certain numbers, such as those used by the attackers. ANI technology and central office phone equipment makes this very possible.  This is but only one option and I'm certain other less impacting measure are available as well.  Have they been explored?  With so many qualified people out of work currently the opportunity may be at hand  to finally examine security policy and their implementations more comprehensively.

Finally, I have enough problems completing calls on my cell phone. Cell providers are bad enough on their own. I don't think we need any addtional help in NOT getting our calls through. 

- oh well you'll have to tweet over wifi then.

Interesting how false flag attacks bring about more and more tightening of security and human rights... who'd have known!? ;)

I think that may be counter productive and could be against Constitutional rights as well. 

Anyone can always have an old fashioned land line if they are worried about losing cell phone connections.

You pay for cell phone service..it isn't a "constitutional right" or affects your liberties.

During Katrina, cell phones didn't work.

When cell phones lines are overloaded, they don't work. Believe me, when there is a hurricane in Florida, many times your cell phone won't work because of everyone using them. Perhaps the NYPD wants the lines open for emergency services.

Why people are getting freaked out about this is beyond me.