Cell Phone Privacy Court Cases | American Civil Liberties Union (2024)

Virginia

United States v. Chatrie

Status: Ongoing

Cell Phone Privacy

Status: Ongoing

United States v. Hunt

This case concerns whether a warrant is required to search the information stored on a cell phone when the device itself may be properly deemed “abandoned.”

Cell Phone Privacy

Massachusetts Supreme Court

Commonwealth v. Arrington

In this amicus brief, the ACLU and its coalition partners urged robust application of the legal standard governing the admissibility of expert testimony and technical evidence, especially in cases involving opaque or proprietary algorithms.

Status: Ongoing

Status: Ongoing

The Warrant Clause in the Digital Age

The information generated by today’s digital devices and online services reveals private matters far beyond what one could learn from physical analogs. In a series of legal filings and a white paper, available below, the ACLU has argued that to keep apace with technological developments and adequately protect our privacy, the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement must be interpreted robustly. Seizures and searches of digital data must be cabined to probable cause, limited to specific categories of information relevant to the investigation, and closely overseen by a neutral magistrate.

ACLU v. FBI - FOIA Case for FBI Records Related to Nondisclosure Agreements for Cell Site Simulators

In 2021, the ACLU submitted a FOIA request to the FBI to determine whether the FBI has continued to require state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into nondisclosure agreements before purchasing or using cell site simulators. After appealing and suing, the ACLU finally obtained responsive records confirming that the FBI has continued to impose nondisclosure agreements on law enforcement agencies seeking to use the FBI’s cell site simulators.