Cell data investigation: How we did it

This story is a collaborative effort of Paste BN and Gannett newspapers and TV stations across the country.

More than 50 investigative journalists requested public records from local and state police agencies in their communities, seeking records that might shed light on capabilities of civilian police to gather data from people's cellphones.

Records obtained from police agencies, as well as additional records from online databases of contracts and government proceedings, were gathered to paint a broad picture of the state of cellphone surveillance by police. Many agencies denied records requests.

Local cops tracking cellphones, investigation finds

The National Security Agency isn't the only government entity secretly collecting data from people's cellphones. Police are increasingly scooping it up, too.

VPC

Gannett newspapers and TV stations are reporting additional details about local agencies.