Google Data Policy Change: Implications for Florida Geofence Warrants

What Are Geofence Warrants And How Do They Impact Your Privacy Rights?

Historically, police used a search warrant to seek Google Location History records for devices within a defined area and time. This use of geofence warrants could draw people with no role in a crime into an investigation.

These requests concerned stored location records for participating users. They did not capture every nearby phone or disclose all its contents.

And make no mistake – the location data Google collects can expose where you sleep, who you meet with, health issues, and even when you go to worship. It’s an unprecedented invasion of privacy.

Supreme Court Addresses Geofence Searches

In Chatrie v. United States, decided June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court held that police conducted a Fourth Amendment search by obtaining Chatrie’s Google Location History data. It sent the case back for review of whether the warrant met probable-cause and particularity requirements.

The district court had found the warrant unconstitutional but denied Chatrie’s motion to suppress under the good-faith exception. The Supreme Court left that exception unresolved.

Google Announcement Hampers Future Geofence Warrants

In its December 2023 announcement about Location History, Google described a shift to storing Timeline data on users’ devices. Users could also choose encrypted cloud backups that Google said it could not read.

Google also announced a three-month auto-delete default for users first turning on Location History, replacing the previous 18-month default. Users could choose a longer period or turn off automatic deletion. Three months was therefore a default setting, not a firm limit on how long records could exist.

Google’s current Timeline guidance explains that visits and routes are saved on users’ devices, with an option to back up an encrypted copy to Google’s servers.

What This Means For Florida Criminal Defendants

Google’s storage changes affect the availability of Timeline records. Other Google services may still save location information under separate settings. A defense review should identify the source of the records, how police obtained them, and whether grounds exist to exclude them.

If you or a loved one faces criminal charges that involve questionable search warrants or invasion of privacy, don’t hesitate to reach out. We have an extensive record defending Constitutional liberties in the Sunshine State, and we look forward to fighting overreach however it manifests going forward.

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