EFF's inquiry involved numerous law enforcement agencies, from the feds to Morton County. What was gleaned only highlights the disturbingly redacted capabilities of the police surveillance state.

"Following several reports of potentially unlawful surveillance", an EFF blog reads, "EFF sent technologists and lawyers to North Dakota." Investigators compiled "anecdotal" reports of "suspicious cell phone behavior", unusual battery drainage, and applications or phones crashing entirely.

Some water protectors", EFF noted, also observed login attempts to Google accounts. After the intrusions the IP addresses were usually linked to "North Dakota's Information & Technology Department", EFF reports. "On social media", the blog continues, "many reported Facebook posts and messenger threads disappearing." Live uploads, and uploads in general, normally failed to complete or disappeared once processed.

"While some have attributed these issues to secret surveillance technologies like cell-site simulators, also known colloquially as Stingrays, and malware, it's been very difficult to pinpoint the true cause or causes." – Electronic Frontier Foundation