NPR – by Nina TotenburgThe U.S. Supreme Court is delving into the technology-versus-privacy debate, agreeing to hear two cases that test whether police making an arrest may search cellphones without a warrant.
The court’s announcement Friday that it would take the cases came just hours after President Obama outlined his proposals to address government retention of citizen phone data as part of his speech outlining reforms at the National Security Agency.
The court said it would hear arguments, likely in April, in two cases with conflicting decisions from the lower courts.
In one case, from California, David Riley was pulled over for expired tags. When police then discovered loaded guns in his vehicle, they arrested Riley and searched his smartphone. Investigators found photos and contacts linking Riley to gang activity, and prosecutors used the smartphone information at trial to win a conviction. Riley received a prison term of 15 years to life.
The California Supreme Court, which had previously ruled that such searches are legal, left Riley’s conviction in place.
Across the country, a federal appeals court in Boston reached the opposite conclusion, barring all warrantless cellphone searches except in emergency situations. The Obama administration appealed that ruling, contending that immediate searches of cellphones are especially important because the information contained in them can be so easily and quickly erased.
The Supreme Court’s eventual decision in these cases could lay the groundwork for future rulings on the NSA’s collection of cellphone metadata.
However the Supreme Court rules, its decision will have enormous practical consequences, since 90 percent of all Americans own mobile phones.
It’s plain TYRANNY. My position is that they need a warrent to search “anything.” The process of getting a warrant is dependant on probable cause to search…the judge decides the issue of probable cause to issue that warrant. That process is to safegard against violations of your constitutional rights…..
just incase you were wondering, the US of A is a police state..not almost one, not soon to be one..we are one already
I just talked with a very good friend of mine who is LE..and he confirmed it with no fan fare..straight up told me yes we are a police state..and that’s coming from a cops mouth, one that knows WTF is going on and has his ear to the reality of such
so if you were planning on fighting this you missed the day, big time..so saying we should be doing something about this, is way more than a day late and a dollar short..now the push back has to be even harder faster wiser, and NOW!
wait until all they have is these brainwashed kids that are all wet behind the ears today to only deal with,, this countries republic is slipping from our grasp quicker than a 17 year old orgasm , and that is what they are banking on..wake up this youth or this countries future is toast