California may set rules for police tracking of cellphones

California lawmakers are considering new regulations for technology that lets law enforcement intercept cellphone signals.

Agencies can use the technology, often lumped to together under the brand name "StingRay," to learn who is being called, when the call is made, and where it came from.

SB741 by Sen. Jerry Hill, a Democrat from San Mateo, would require local governments to take public comments and pass a resolution or ordinance before using the technology.

They would have to include a privacy policy and a policy on when the technology and resulting data may be used, and how the data will be protected and eventually destroyed once it is no longer needed.

The measure was approved by the state Senate on Friday on a 39-0 vote, and now goes to the Assembly.