# Can the government listen to cell phone conversations when the phone is turned off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101 "2010-05-20T04:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/21 "2010-05-21T00:10:28Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > That’s worrying - my phone behaves exactly like that. So does my TV and my electric toothbrush. How can I remove this software from all my household appliances? Tin foil hats are the most effective. You can also learn pidgin Swahili. (This was a “free tip” offered to me by a guy taking collections at a Salvation Army dropoff site. He and his daughter developed a version of Swahili so that no one could eavesdrop on them. According to him, the CIA knocked on his door asking about it just a couple of weeks after they started. So… the CIA can tap your phone, computer, etc. but they can’t read Swahili.) ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/22 "2010-05-21T01:25:22Z")
[Relavent article](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2006/12/8343.ars) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/23 "2010-05-21T11:33:48Z")
That’s why people running from the Feds always take the battery out of their phones in TV programs… ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/24 "2010-05-21T12:50:47Z")
The OPP [tracked down](http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Sending+signals/2615784/story.html) three murder suspects recently using a stolen cell phone. > [@](#): > > It must have been a shock to three murder suspects when police found them on Highway 401 this week just hours after the crime. But that’s what having a cellphone will do for you. > > The accused are alleged to have been carrying a cellphone from the Barrhaven house where Michael Swan was shot and killed early Monday. Police tracked them, using a GPS device embedded in the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/25 "2010-05-21T12:57:54Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I am the Eggman. I thought you were the Walrus. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/26 "2010-05-21T13:01:53Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I thought you were the Walrus. The Walrus is Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/27 "2010-05-21T13:34:47Z")
O.T. but related, can direction find a radio when its not transmitting, but it does have to be switched on. ---
**Author:** ![moldybread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@moldybread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldybread)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/28 "2010-05-21T15:05:27Z")
One time I ass dialed 911. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/29 "2010-05-21T15:07:40Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > O.T. but related, can direction find a radio when its not transmitting, but it does have to be switched on. Is this a question or a statement? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/30 "2010-05-21T17:55:39Z")
There are portable communications devices that do indeed allow monitoring whilst they are turned off. I use one every day from the user end - not the monitoring end, and whilst these are not mobile phones, the technology is so similar that it is no stretch of the imagination at all to believe this is possible, heck, some versions also broadcast their precise location, off or on. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/31 "2010-05-21T18:40:05Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > There are portable communications devices that do indeed allow monitoring whilst they are turned off. > > I use one every day from the user end - not the monitoring end, and whilst these are not mobile phones, the technology is so similar that it is no stretch of the imagination at all to believe this is possible, heck, some versions also broadcast their precise location, off or on. Could you elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/32 "2010-05-21T18:47:37Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > You’re no longer part of the System. You’re above the System. Over it. Beyond it. We are “them.” "They " are us. But I’m one of them who’s one of us and he’s one of them who’s one of _them._ ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/33 "2010-05-21T18:58:58Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > But I’m one of them who’s one of us and he’s one of them who’s one of _them._ But _I_. . .I am Spartacus. Come on, folks, _someone_ had to do it! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/34 "2010-05-21T21:36:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Could you elaborate? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101/35 "2010-05-22T12:05:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Is this a question or a statement? Sorry didn’t mean to be obscure. It was a statement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-government-listen-to-cell-phone-conversations-when-the-phone-is-turned-off/540101.md?page=1)