Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Supreme Court Weighs Geofence Warrants
Coverage from Electronic Frontier Foundation, EPIC - Electronic Privacy Information Center, and others
Articles
4
Latest Article
04/27
Active Days
15
Executive Summary
Privacy groups urge the Supreme Court to block geofence warrants, arguing the dragnet searches violate the Fourth Amendment and sweep in innocents
- ACLU, EFF, EPIC, and Georgetown Law filed amicus briefs in Chatrie v United States
- The case is the first geofence search dispute to reach the Supreme Court
- Briefs argue geofence warrants are digital dragnets that collect data on everyone in an area
- The warrant in Chatrie covered a 150 meter radius around a Virginia bank robbery
- Courts below found parts of the warrant overbroad and lacking probable cause
- The Supreme Court will hear oral argument on April 27 2026
- The briefs say geofence searches can expose homes, churches, doctors offices, and protests
Quick Facts
- What: The Court is weighing whether geofence warrants are unconstitutional
- Where: United States Supreme Court and a Virginia robbery case
- Why: To protect Fourth Amendment privacy from broad location data dragnets
- Who: Privacy groups, police, Google, and the Supreme Court
- When: Oral argument is scheduled for April 27 2026
Coverage Timeline: 15 Days
Featured Article
EFF, ACLU and Georgetown Law Center on Privacy filed a brief on Monday urging the Supreme Court to rule geofence warrants unconstitutional.
Additional Articles
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EPIC argues geofence warrants require Fourth Amendment warrants in Chatrie v United States; Supreme Court hearing scheduled in Washington DC in 2026.
ACLU and partners file amicus brief in Chatrie v United States challenging geofence warrants before the Supreme Court.
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Supreme Court to decide if geofence warrants satisfy Fourth Amendment protections in the United States this term