amicus privacy Riley v. California
EPIC Asks Supreme Court to Protect Cellphone Privacy
EPIC, joined by twenty-four technical experts and legal scholars, has filed a "friend of the court" brief in a Supreme Court case concerning the warrantless search of a cell phone. In Riley v. California, the Court will determine whether the search of a phone following an arrest violates the Fourth Amendment if no warrant is obtained. Lower courts are currently divided on this issue. EPIC's amicus brief explains that "modern cell phone technology provides access to an extraordinary amount of personal data . . . Allowing police officers to search a person's cell phone without a warrant following an arrest would be a substantial infringement on privacy, is unnecessary, and unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment." EPIC's brief describes the vast amount of personal information available on the phone and from the phone. "From a cellphone," EPIC explains "users can even see into their homes and control devices and appliances." EPIC points out that "there is no need to allow warrantless searches when currently available techniques allow law enforcement to secure the cell phone data pending a judicial determination of probable cause." EPIC routinely participates in privacy cases before the US Supreme Court. For more information, see EPIC: Riley v. California, EPIC: EPIC Amicus Curiae Briefs.
March 7, 2014| Share:
