safety
Supreme Court says police can’t freely access cellphone location history
By AP via Scripps News Group at KXXV (ABC 25) News
· June 29, 2026
· 2 min read
The Supreme Court held Monday that constitutional privacy protections extend to cellphone location information, ruling in the case of a bank robber whose identity was discovered through a geofence warrant.Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the 6-3 court that people dont forfeit expectations of privacy...
Key takeaway Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the 6-3 court that people dont forfeit expectations of privacy even when they opt into Googles location history.
Why this matters in The Waco
The Supreme Court's decision to extend constitutional privacy protections to cellphone location information has significant implications for law enforcement in Waco and McLennan County. Local police departments will need to reevaluate their use of geofence warrants and cellphone location data in investigations, ensuring they balance the need for effective crime-solving with individuals' right to privacy. This ruling may affect how police gather evidence in cases such as burglaries or robberies in the Waco area, where cellphone location data could be a crucial tool. As the case is sent back to a lower court for further review, Waco residents should watch for potential changes in local law enforcement procedures and how they impact public safety and individual privacy rights in the community. The Waco area will likely see adjustments in how police obtain and use cellphone location information, which could influence the outcome of future investigations and prosecutions.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The Supreme Court held Monday that constitutional privacy protections extend to cellphone location information, ruling in the case of a bank robber whose identity was discovered through a geofence warrant.Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the 6-3 court that people dont forfeit expectations of privacy...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by AP via Scripps News Group at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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