Police Need Warrant to Search Arrestees’ Mobile Phones, U.S. Supreme Court Rules

In a groundbreaking decision recognizing the unique privacy characteristics of mobile phone data storage and connectivity, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court June 25 ruled that the government generally must get a warrant before searching digital information on a mobile phone seized from an arrestee (Riley v. Cal., 2014 BL 175779, U.S., 13-132, 6/25/14).

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said that for purposes of the Fourth Amendment, the qualities of digital data make them distinguishable from physical items or spaces, a first for the court.

“A cell phone search would typically expose to ...