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Your phone knows where you are. Advertisers use that data to sell to you. But now the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether law enforcement can use the same technology to investigate you. That’s the subject of this episode of The Dealer Download, and it’s a story with real implications for dealers.
In Chatrie v. United States, the Supreme Court agreed to take up the question of whether geofence warrants — a controversial law enforcement tool that compels location data from phones in a specific area at a specific time — violate the Fourth Amendment. This case could redefine how location data is treated under U.S. law, affecting privacy expectations, digital advertising practices, and the trust that customers place in the technology dealers sell.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Chatrie v. United States could reshape privacy law in America. For dealers, that means understanding not just what geofence warrants are, but what they imply about data practices and consumer trust in a world where technology tracks where we live, work, and shop.
This episode is essential listening for anyone operating in a data-driven world, especially dealers selling wireless, fiber, home automation, and security who rely on digital tools to reach customers.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
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What geofence warrants are and how they work
A geofence warrant asks companies like Google or Apple to produce a list of devices that were present in a defined location at a specified time. It’s been described as a reverse warrant because it starts with where people were, not who they might be.
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Why courts are split on constitutionality
Lower courts have disagreed on whether geofence warrants meet the Fourth Amendment’s requirements for probable cause and particularity. Some say the warrants are lawful because users opted into location services. Others say the broad data sweep is like a general search banned by the Constitution.
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How the same location data powers modern advertising
Dealers and digital marketers rely on location data to reach customers with relevant offers and influence local search performance. That same data — when handed over under a geofence warrant — can be used in ways consumers never expected.
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