Case Law Index
federal2018
Additional Highlights:Fourth AmendmentCell-Site LocationDigital Privacy
Carpenter v. United States
United States Supreme Court
Key Holding
The government must obtain a warrant to access historical cell-site location information, as individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their physical movements tracked through such data.
Case Summary
Carpenter v. United States extended Fourth Amendment warrant protections to historical cell-site location information (CSLI), recognizing that the digital age requires an updated approach to privacy that accounts for the comprehensive nature of location data collected by wireless carriers.