The BART board has today confirmed their controversial policy of temporarily interrupting cellphone signals and wireless communications during times of civil unrest whereby the public are deemed at risk.
This is a massive policy that they have just passed and is going to meet strong opposition. The United States has always condemned the silencing of people in other countries like China, Iran, Egypt (Mubarak era) etc by these actions, so it actually comes as a bit of a shock that they still believe it to be OK, especially after the outcry the last time they did this, which invoked the anger of pretty much everyone, including Anonymous
Here is what BART have stated on their site:
[sic] BART’s new cell phone policy sets a standard of “extraordinary circumstances” when cell phone service could be temporarily interrupted. The policy, adopted by the BART Board of Directors today by unanimous vote states a temporary interruption could be implemented only when BART “…determines that there is strong evidence of imminent unlawful activity that threatens the safety of District passengers, employees and other members of the public…”
The policy cites examples such as “…evidence of use of cell phones as instrumentalities in explosives; to facilitate violent criminal activity or endanger District passengers…”
“The intent of this cell phone interruption policy is to balance free speech rights with legitimate public safety concerns,” BART Board President Bob Franklin said. “This policy, with input from the Federal Communications Commission, and the American Civil Liberties Union, will serve as a pioneering model for our nation, as a reference to other public agencies that will inevitably face similar dilemmas in the future. “
The policy adopted today was revised to reflect concerns raised by Board members when an earlier draft version was considered by the Board at its November 3, 2011 meeting. The revised policy requires the establishment of an operational procedure approved by the General Manager rather than granting the decision solely to the G.M. It also requires BART to promptly report cell phone service interruptions to “first responders and the Board of Directors.”
The policy takes effect immediately. Download the Cell Service Interruption Policy
Note that they state that these measures would only be taken in [sic] “extraordinary circumstances”, but who makes the final call and just how much is this policy up for abuse?
Pretty disappointing to see a democratic government, who constantly try to tell the world how to act and spew about freedom of speech etc, do the complete opposite. Let’s just hope that someone in power overrules this before other areas try to make this policy as well.
Your thoughts?
TechFleece 