Cognyte Sells a Mobile Cell Surveillance Van
Cognyte, an Israeli surveillance firm, has sold a mobile cell surveillance van called FalcoNet, mimicking a cell tower to track nearby phones. This technology, similar to Stingrays, allows law enforcement to monitor communications without suspecting a crime has occurred, raising significant privacy concerns.
Cognyte, an Israeli surveillance company, has recently sold a mobile cell surveillance van to the state of Texas. This device, known as FalcoNet, functions as a mobile cell tower, compelling nearby smartphones to connect to it. This allows law enforcement to monitor communications from any phones within its range, regardless of whether they belong to a suspect in an investigation. According to a contract obtained by *The Intercept*, FalcoNet can be concealed within vehicles, either in a backpack for covert operations on foot or attached to a helicopter for wider area surveillance. The technology is functionally equivalent to Stingrays, a cell-site simulator originally developed by defense giant L3Harris. This raises serious concerns about the potential for indiscriminate surveillance and the erosion of privacy rights.