Supreme Court Curbs Law Enforcement Use of Geofence Cellphone Data

The Supreme Court issued a ruling that restricts how police can conduct “geofence” searches. Geofence searches involve gathering location data from all cellphones within a defined radius of a crime scene. The Court held that such sweeping collection exceeds Fourth Amendment protections without a warrant. Law‑enforcement agencies must now obtain a specific court order before accessing bulk cellphone location records. The decision follows a lower‑court case that raised privacy concerns over mass data gathering. Civil‑rights groups praised the ruling as a safeguard for digital privacy. Prosecutors warned the new standard could impede investigations that rely on rapid location data. The ruling is expected to shape future cases involving digital surveillance and warrant requirements.