Pennsylvania Allows Warrantless Use of Google Searches on Person

Someone who conducts general, unprotected internet searches, like on Google, lacks an expectation of privacy in the records generated by those requests, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled Tuesday.

In investigating a sexual assault, police obtained a reverse keyword search warrant targeting all requests for the victim’s name or address within a week prior to the attack. That search put investigators on the path to track and arrest John Kurtz, who was found guilty of that and other assaults, the court said.

Kurtz lacked a cognizable expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution or the Pennsylvania ...