Privacy in the Digital Age: Supreme Court Takes on Tech and Crime

The Supreme Court has decided to tackle a significant issue: whether police can use tech to track people's phones during investigations. This case, Chatrie v. United States, revolves around a man named Okello T. Chatrie, who is currently in prison for a bank robbery that happened near Richmond, Virginia, in 2019. Chatrie's legal team is arguing that the method used to track his phone violates the Fourth Amendment. This amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. The method in question is called a geofence warrant. It allows police to collect location data from tech companies like Google. Geofence warrants have become more common in recent years. They help police solve crimes by tracking devices near crime scenes. However, Chatrie's lawyers say that collecting this data from Google is like searching his personal belongings without a proper warrant.The case has not yet been scheduled for arguments, but it is likely to happen later this year. A decision is expected by the end of June or early July. This case is important because it will set boundaries for how police can use new technology in investigations. The case started after Chatrie was indicted in 2019 for an armed robbery at a credit union. Police used location data from Google to track his movements during the crime. Chatrie's lawyers argue that this data should not have been used against him because it violates his privacy rights. The Supreme Court's decision will have a big impact on how technology is used in criminal investigations. It will also affect people's privacy rights in the digital age. The case highlights the ongoing tension between law enforcement's need to solve crimes and individuals' right to privacy.