What case established the need for a search warrant for cell phones?

The requirement for a search warrant to access information on cell phones was firmly established by the rulings in both Riley v. California and US v. Wurie. In Riley v. California, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the warrantless search and seizure of digital contents of a cell phone during an arrest was unconstitutional, underscoring the need for law enforcement to obtain a warrant. The Court emphasized that cell phones hold a vast amount of personal information, which necessitates greater protection under the Fourth Amendment.

Similarly, in US v. Wurie, the courts addressed the issue of cell phone searches incident to an arrest, reinforcing the conclusion that warrantless searches violate individual privacy rights. Both cases together clarifies that law enforcement must obtain a warrant based on probable cause before searching the digital contents of a cell phone, thereby establishing a critical precedent for future cases involving electronic devices. This constitutional protection reflects society's recognition of the sensitive nature of digital information and the need for a legal safeguard against unreasonable searches.