Abortion Fears Spur Reverse Search Warrant Bill in California

Privacy advocates are pushing California to be the first to crack down on a controversial investigative tool used by police that compels technology companies to turn over geolocation or search data to find suspects.

The state Assembly earlier this month passed legislation that would selectively prohibit the practice (A.B. 793) known as “reverse search warrants,” spurred by fears that red state prosecutors could use them to target abortion seekers. The searches are used to find suspects and not to gather evidence on a targeted individual.

But proponents barely mustered enough votes to clear the necessary hurdle of receiving ...