A bipartisan group of Minnesota lawmakers is pushing to ban reverse location warrants, which allow police to collect data on devices near crime scenes. The bill, introduced by Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) with Sens. Omar Fateh (DFL-Minneapolis) and Eric Lucero (R-Dayton) as original sponsors, aims to prohibit these warrants except in emergency situations.
Key Takeaways
Minnesota lawmakers are pushing to ban reverse location warrants, which allow police to collect data on devices near crime scenes, citing concerns over Fourth Amendment protections. The bipartisan bill faces opposition from law enforcement groups who argue the warrants are crucial for solving crimes.
- Minnesota senators propose ban on reverse location warrants except in emergencies
- Lawmakers argue warrants violate Fourth Amendment and gather excessive data
- Law enforcement groups say warrants are critical for investigations and public safety
- Google has stopped storing location data susceptible to these warrants, but concerns remain
The lawmakers argue that reverse location warrants, also known as "geofence" or "dragnet" warrants, cast too broad a net and violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. These warrants can gather data on thousands of people who attended events like protests or funerals, raising concerns about privacy.
Law enforcement groups, including the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), contend that the bill is too broad. They argue that these warrants are critical for solving complex investigations and protecting public safety. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans stated in a letter to lawmakers that an outright ban would have a major detrimental effect on public safety, citing numerous cases where reverse location data has saved lives.
The debate comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments in April on the constitutionality of these warrants. Meanwhile, Google announced it would stop storing location data in a way that makes it susceptible to such warrant requests by July 2025. However, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation have cast doubt on whether this fix is sufficient.
The Senate bill also includes provisions to prohibit warrants for gathering information on devices based on specific keywords, phrases, websites, GPS coordinates, cell tower data, or Wi-Fi connectivity. The bill was first discussed in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on March 9, with a companion bill proposed by Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton) being discussed in the House.
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