Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes • Hacker News Board

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#11

Post by kmeisthax » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:04 PM UTC

bitxbitxbitcoin wrote: post #5

Just a note that listening in - even to police scanner frequencies - counts as legal use.

Not only that, but you actually are prohibited from encrypting ham radio transmissions. This means, practically speaking, no ham Internet, as everything mandates encryption online nowadays.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#12

Post by chociej » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:05 PM UTC

unethical_ban wrote: post #4

tl;dr : How to turn a local or state crime into a federal one. It isn't particularly shocking that this is a statute. I wonder if ham radio was used in the capitol riot.

I thought I read on Twitter a few days ago that it almost certainly was. Someone also linked to an article that I now can't find about extremists setting up an IP link on the amateur bands. All I could think was the instant they initiate a TLS session they've committed a federal crime.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#13

Post by sithadmin » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:05 PM UTC

JosephRedfern wrote: post #7

This might be a dumb question, but is there any information out there about how much official monitoring goes on for amateur bands (and other bands, for that matter)? Are there strategically placed logging stations that allow triangulation of signal origin based on RSSI etc? I guess this stuff is super commonplace in SIGINT, I just don't know much about it.

In the USA, monitoring is heavily dependent on the amateur radio community, both informally (average operators encountering, then reporting bad actors) and formally via ARRL's volunteer monitoring program (see: http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-monitor-program)

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#14

Post by La1n » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:07 PM UTC

bitxbitxbitcoin wrote: post #5

Just a note that listening in - even to police scanner frequencies - counts as legal use.

Does it even if it helps you commit a crime? Would it not be "facilitating" a crime? I am not from the US so honest question.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#15

Post by avmich » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:07 PM UTC

jjoonathan wrote: post #8

I can already hear the cries of censorship. "What do you mean crimes aren't protected speech?"

I think more interesting is how to decide in advance if a particular use is use in crime. Before a judge will decide there is a crime.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#16

Post by chmod600 » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:07 PM UTC

Related: Mexican drug cartels using radios:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21109605

A lot of that is probably to reach areas the cartels need to operate that don't have other reliable communication, or have little enough that it would be easily surveiled. Not sure if it applies to urban criminal activity, which is what the ARRL is worried about.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#17

Post by donatj » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:07 PM UTC

aktive0 wrote: post #10

I'm wondering if this was specifically posted wrt the "deplatforming" as of late. In other words, has there been murmurs of people using radio to coordinate actions now that social media is unavailable to them?

> The Bureau has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms

So, yes

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#18

Post by mikey_p » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:07 PM UTC

JosephRedfern wrote: post #7

This might be a dumb question, but is there any information out there about how much official monitoring goes on for amateur bands (and other bands, for that matter)? Are there strategically placed logging stations that allow triangulation of signal origin based on RSSI etc? I guess this stuff is super commonplace in SIGINT, I just don't know much about it.

I think is is a subtle reminder and hint not to use amateur or FRS/GMRS radios in planning things like that attack on the capitol.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#19

Post by mrdoornbos » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:08 PM UTC

Don't use... well anything, in crimes. Duh.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#20

Post by chociej » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 5:08 PM UTC

JosephRedfern wrote: post #7

This might be a dumb question, but is there any information out there about how much official monitoring goes on for amateur bands (and other bands, for that matter)? Are there strategically placed logging stations that allow triangulation of signal origin based on RSSI etc? I guess this stuff is super commonplace in SIGINT, I just don't know much about it.

Hams routinely monitor and triangulate noncompliant stations, and also do staged "fox hunting" games for fun & prestige. But, I don't think it's routine or widespread to monitor the ham bands at scale for illegal or unsavory content.