In addition to all the other, very serious concerns, I'll also ask this:
How long until these records are available for subpoena, e.g. in a divorce case? (Maybe -- hopefully! -- not in area sweeps, but nonetheless, where was the other party and who was in proximity. As I'm writing this, well, maybe they will ask for all connections in proximity, that list then to be whittled down to a list of candidates (per the police's approach in the OP's story)).
When are police going to start sweeping such data up en masse, looking for e.g. parole violations?
When will every "free association" be a tracked association?
> How long until these records are available for subpoena, e.g. in a divorce case?
I see nothing preventing this information being sought in U.S. discovery right now--at least in Federal litigation[0]. That isn't to say that the subpoena won't be squashed by a court for one of the traditional rationales under FRCP 26(b).[1]
>When are police going to start sweeping such data up en masse, looking for e.g. parole violations?
Arguably runs afoul of the particularity requirement of the fourth amendment, although I do not pretend to be an expert on criminal law. That said, I understand the fourth amendment to be a low bar these days.
> When will every "free association" be a tracked association?
Rhetorical question?
[0] Your specific example, divorces, are state law in the US. I don't do that, and the relevant laws / cases can change on a state-by-state basis.
Yes, the last part could be considered rhetorical. Except, I think that is the very real direction some -- including especially some already in authority, in the U.S. as well as around the world -- want to take things.
On the other hand, maybe my question is rhetorical, in that the tracking is already in place.
How long until these records are available for subpoena, e.g. in a divorce case? (Maybe -- hopefully! -- not in area sweeps, but nonetheless, where was the other party and who was in proximity. As I'm writing this, well, maybe they will ask for all connections in proximity, that list then to be whittled down to a list of candidates (per the police's approach in the OP's story)).
When are police going to start sweeping such data up en masse, looking for e.g. parole violations?
When will every "free association" be a tracked association?