Freedom of Speech Privacy Transparency

Two wins for privacy and transparency

Last week, Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York Federal Court ruled that the government needs a warrant and to show probable cause in order to get mobile phone location info.  Other court rulings have a ruled that a warrant was not required, so this ruling was a most pleasant surprise.

Then last Monday, August 26th, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston ruled that Boston Police officers violated Simon Glik’s First and Fourth Amendment rights when they arrested him and seized his mobile phone because he recorded their arrest of another person, and so, they claimed, violated Massachusetts’ anti-wiretapping law.  (h/t Universal Hub)

Both rulings are exciting and further support individual privacy and efforts to promote government transparency.

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