US v. Smith 5th Circuit Geofence ruling

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals case, United States v. Smith, concerning the constitutionality of geofence warrants under the Fourth Amendment. The court holds that geofence warrants, which compel Google to disclose location data of numerous individuals within a specified area, are unconstitutional general warrants. Despite this finding, the court affirms the district court's denial of the motion to suppress evidence obtained via the warrant, citing the good-faith exception because law enforcement acted reasonably given the novelty of this warrant type. The ruling acknowledges the tension between law enforcement's interest in utilizing advanced technology and the protection of individual privacy rights. A concurring opinion emphasizes the importance of constitutional safeguards against governmental overreach, even when technology offers benefits to law enforcement. The case provides an overview of the process by which law enforcement obtains geofence warrants and Google's response to those requests. Click here for the ruling