The Impact of Geofence Warrants

Geofence warrants represent a powerful surveillance tool that law enforcement uses to collect location data from individuals in specific areas during criminal investigations. These warrants allow police to gather information from Google about anyone who was near a crime scene, leading to individuals, like Zachary McCoy, being wrongfully implicated without direct evidence. McCoy's experience, where he unknowingly became a suspect due to riding his bike near a burglary site, highlights the potential for innocent people to be swept up in these broad data sweeps. Although authorities justify these warrants as necessary to rightfully investigate crime, they raise significant concerns over privacy rights and unreasonable searches.