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Supreme Court Weighs Expanding Police Geofence Warrants

4/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court signaled it may permit police to use geofence warrants that sweep location data near crime scenes.
On Monday, Justices heard oral arguments in Chatrie v. United States and will rule by end of June.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and more than 30 states claim opt-in users lack a privacy expectation.
Lower courts are split on geofence warrants, with Google now storing location history on users’ devices.

History

Historical Context

After the Court limited vehicle searches in Arizona v. Gant during the 2008 term that began on October 6, 2008, it expanded privacy rights in 2018 with Carpenter v. United States, holding that cell-site location data is a Fourth Amendment search requiring a warrant. The ruling set a precedent now shaping debates over modern geofence warrants.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court signaled it may permit police to use geofence warrants that sweep location data near crime scenes.
On Monday, Justices heard oral arguments in Chatrie v. United States and will rule by end of June.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and more than 30 states claim opt-in users lack a privacy expectation.
Lower courts are split on geofence warrants, with Google now storing location history on users’ devices.

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