Long-Distance Search Warrant Power Coming Dec. 1

Privacy advocates have little time for congressional intervention to stop an amended procedural rule that will allow federal judges to approve remote access to electronic devices.

The U.S. Supreme Court approved revised Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41, set to take effect Dec. 1, will allow federal judges to issue warrants that cover districts other than their own for law enforcement entities looking to conduct remote electronic searches, including of devices cloaked to hide their locations.

There is almost no chance Congress will intervene before the effective date, analysts told Bloomberg BNA. So companies that maintain large databases of personal data, such as e-mail service providers, may face more law enforcement warrant requests for access.

 

Read More: Long-Distance Search Warrant Power Coming Dec. 1 | Bloomberg BNA