Notify cell phone users when law-enforcement accesses personal data

Check out this must-read item from MSNBC about state and local law enforcement accessing locator information from personal cell phones, using data uncovered by the ACLU from open records to analyze the growing frequency of such requests and the millions of dollars earned by cell phone carriers from the practice.

Grits was particularly interested in a suggestion by a former Justice Department official who "favors a system that would require cellphone carriers to inform customers – even after the fact – that law enforcement has obtained their location or cellphone call data." That would be an excellent idea for privacy legislation when the Texas Lege meets next year.