A federal appeals court has ruled that law enforcement officers cannot search a driver's smartphone during a routine traffic stop without a warrant, strengthening Fourth Amendment digital privacy protections.

The Ruling

The 9th Circuit Court held that a phone's contents are constitutionally protected regardless of the circumstances of the traffic stop. The ruling reverses a practice common in many jurisdictions.

Impact

The decision applies to 9 western states and is expected to reach the Supreme Court. Civil liberties organizations hailed it as a landmark digital rights victory.