Encryption is now illegal? (Re: U.S. Secret Service shuts down NYC cellular disruption network)

[nanog--- via NANOG <nanog () lists nanog org>]

Upon actually reading the article, this looks overblown, typical of the 
current regime.

Having a lot of SIM cards, a lot of phones, having phones in a 
rack-mount form factor, and plugging SIM cards into things that are not 
phones are not illegal.

The fact that a cellphone network could be overloaded by a lot of phones 
doesn't make it illegal to have a lot of phones. Even if it /does/ 
overload the cellphone network, AFAIK it's still not illegal unless that 
was your intention.


Their other justification is even worse:

"These devices could be used for... facilitating anonymous, encrypted 
communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises" 
- MEGA YIKES. So they're outlawing encryption now? Anything that can 
send communication can send encrypted communication. It's one thing if 
they discovered a criminal enterprise that was actually using this 
equipment as their communications hub, as I believe the law allows them 
to seize stuff used for a crime regardless of its other uses. But only 
in America (and Russia, Iran, North Korea) can they legally seize stuff 
just because it /could hypothetically/ be used for a crime, and then not 
give it back.



On 23/09/2025 18:46, Mel Beckman via NANOG wrote:
> The U.S. Secret Service announced today that it dismantled a network of electronic devices located throughout the New 
> York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed towards senior U.S. 
> government officials, which represented an imminent threat to the agency’s protective operations.
>
>
> The SS say they discovered more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites, and while 
> the photo they provide shows gear set up in what looks like an apartment, it could be that interlopers have infiltrated 
> actual Internet colo facilities.
>
>
> As a colo operator, I’ve turned away more than a few sketchy potential customers due to their flakey stories requesting 
> rooftop or window antenna locations. Be on the lookout.
>
>
>
> https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2025/09/us-secret-service-dismantles-imminent-telecommunications-threat-new-york#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20–%20The%20U.S.%20Secret,SIM%20cards%20across%20multiple%20sites.<https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2025/09/us-secret-service-dismantles-imminent-telecommunications-threat-new-york#:~:text=NEW%2520YORK%2520%E2%80%93%2520The%2520U.S.%2520Secret,SIM%2520cards%2520across%2520multiple%2520sites.>
>
>
>
>   -mel beckman
> _______________________________________________
> NANOG mailing list
> https://lists.nanog.org/archives/list/nanog () lists nanog org/message/DXT5MYKRC3UPR22Z4QZVWE7BCJFYR6LB/
_______________________________________________
NANOG mailing list 
https://lists.nanog.org/archives/list/nanog () lists nanog org/message/5YDVUIHKINT37IYGHDIERE3ITNMW6B75/