Story perspectives

Supreme Court blocks geofence warrants, protects location privacy.

6/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that geofence warrants for smartphone location data violate the Fourth Amendment.
The justices said individuals have an expectation of privacy in phone location records even in public.
Scholars warned that geofence warrants can sweep up data from protests, abortion clinics and churches without probable cause.
Google said the warrants capture thousands of innocent users and may include homes, places of worship and government buildings.

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Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that geofence warrants for smartphone location data violate the Fourth Amendment.
The justices said individuals have an expectation of privacy in phone location records even in public.
Scholars warned that geofence warrants can sweep up data from protests, abortion clinics and churches without probable cause.
Google said the warrants capture thousands of innocent users and may include homes, places of worship and government buildings.