Law Curbing Police Access to Home Data Tests Privacy Boundaries

A first-of-its-kind law in Illinois limiting law enforcement access to data from household digital devices sits at the forefront of an emerging legal debate over protecting the privacy of such records.

The state’s law, which takes effect Jan. 1, comes as law enforcement seeks to tap into consumers’ growing collection of internet-connected devices, from smart speakers to security cameras. These devices can capture conversations, movements, and other information that could be used for investigating crimes.

Known as the Protecting Household Privacy Act, the law restricts the sharing of device data by requiring a search warrant or permission from the ...