October Term 2017 · Docket 16-402
Does the Fourth Amendment require a warrant for long-term cell site location data?
The government collected 127 days of cell site data without a warrant. the side that brought the case argues this violates privacy rights. The government claims the data is merely business records.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Wessler argued the government collected 127 days of location data without a warrant.
Mr. Dreeben argued cell companies function as witnesses producing their own business records.
Justice Alito questioned why location data is more sensitive than bank records showing purchases.
Justice Kennedy countered that physical location is publicly visible, unlike private bank records.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether the Fourth Amendment protects cell site location information. The government collected 127 days of data without a warrant. the side that brought the case argues this reveals private movements. The government argues the data is public business records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 43-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 29, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to require a warrant for this data.
The government wants the Court to allow warrantless collection of this data.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 43-27
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues long-term location data reveals private movements and associations.
The government argues cell companies are merely witnesses producing business records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 43-27
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked why location data is more sensitive than bank records.
Justice Kennedy argued location data is less private than bank records because people can be seen in public.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-47
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of digital privacy protections. It determines whether the government needs judicial approval to track individuals over time. The outcome shapes how law enforcement accesses modern communication records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 43-27
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-43 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-47
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 43-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.