Emergency Services & Law Enforcement May Get Radar To See Through Walls

It’s passing strange to have two posts on similar topics in the same day – I guess my inner geek is getting a workout. Check out this article on CommLawBlog about the FCC approving tech company to sell radar that can see through walls. The technology apparently uses broad-spectrum RF pulses rather than the traditional single-wavelength pulse common to most radar systems (hence the FCC involvement).

From my research and a look at L-3 CyTerra’s site, it looks like this technology was originally developed to help soldiers search for insurgents in urban environments. The applications in local law enforcement or emergency services settings are obviously of similar types – police could detect the position of captors and hostages through walls, and firefighters could locate victims of smoke inhalation during a house fire.
 
There are some equally obvious 4th Amendment and Privacy questions – this tool might let police officers “virtually” search a residence for a suspect without ever needing to enter. Would they need a search warrant for such an application? The stalker potential is equally as disturbing.
 
As always, technology is evolving several steps ahead of the law. I’m sure the legal battles and political struggles L-3 CyTerra is in for will prove pretty interesting.