The EFF wrote a paper explaining how an IP address is not the equivalent of a person. Law enforcement have been treating IP addresses as people leading them to search innocents. An IP address does not give the exact location of the user and can often be used by more than one person. An IP address is not as unique as law enforcement believes. Are they willing to be educated on the matter?
Key Takeaways:
- Unfortunately, law enforcement agencies also seem to feel an IP address is a person — or at least a good indicator of where this person might be found.
- Law enforcement’s over-reliance on the technology is a product of police and courts not understanding the limitations of both IP addresses and the tools used to link the IP address with a person or a physical location.
- In addition, IP addresses only identify the block of devices assigned to it, not the people utilizing them. Even in cases where there’s only one resident at a physical address linked to an IP address, there’s still a chance law enforcement may be going after the wrong person.
“Law enforcement’s over-reliance on the technology is a product of police and courts not understanding the limitations of both IP addresses and the tools used to link the IP address with a person or a physical location.”
Read the full article here: EFF White Paper Hopes To Educate Cops On The Difference Between An IP Address And A Person
~Comments always welcome…
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