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Police are finding suspects based on their online searches as courts weigh privacy concerns
The Supreme Court examines privacy concerns over police requests for Google search data in complex cases, with courts split on constitutional protections under the Fourth Amendment.
- Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review reverse keyword warrants as criminal investigators have asked Google to identify who searched specific terms.
- With few leads, investigators turn to Google search data because it can point to who sought addresses or names, prosecutors say the method works best with distinctive search terms or planned crimes.
- In Pennsylvania, a warrant directing Google to disclose accounts that searched a victim's name or address led police to John Edward Kurtz's home, DNA match, and a 59-to-280-year sentence.
- Privacy advocates warned warrants could give police 'unfettered access,' while Google reviews and objects to overbroad law enforcement requests, amid a court split involving three justices.
- Unlike geofence warrants, reverse keyword warrants work backward from queries and raise distinct legal questions, while a Brazilian high court is expected to decide soon and Google's search AI may deepen privacy concerns.
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20 Articles
20 Articles
Associated Press News+19 Reposted by 19 other sources
Police are finding suspects based on their online searches as courts weigh privacy concerns
Criminal investigators hoping to develop a suspect are turning to a powerful cyber tool by asking Google to disclose who had been searching for relevant information.
·United States
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Total News Sources20
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center15Last UpdatedBias Distribution79% Center
Bias Distribution
- 79% of the sources are Center
79% Center
L 16%
C 79%
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