The South African Police Service (SAPS) is now authorized to use phone signal grabbers until 2028, following a 5-year exemption from the RICA Act granted by Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola.
An IMSI catcher, or phone signal grabber, is a device that intercepts mobile traffic by mimicking a network tower and capturing communication between a handset and the actual tower.
The exemption from the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA) was officially gazetted on May 19, 2023.
It is concerning that this exemption not only allows SAPS to use IMSI catchers but also extends to keystroke recorders, wiretaps, eavesdropping microphones, and location-tracking devices.
According to the Justice Department, SAPS had previously applied for this exemption in 2010, 2011, and 2012, but these applications were unsuccessful. The reasons behind Minister Lamola’s approval this time remain unclear.
While cellphone signal grabbers can help law enforcement combat crime, there is a risk they could be misused to target journalists or political opponents.
