On March 2, 2026, the Knight Institute, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression submitted an amicus brief in Chatrie v. United States, a Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of “geofence searches.”

The amicus brief argues that geofence searches—which allow law enforcement to collect the location data of everyone present in a given area during a given time period—burden important First Amendment interests. Specifically, the brief argues that these dragnets threaten the ability of journalists to gather confidential information and inform the public, and of citizens to speak on matters of public concern and engage in political or religious association. They do so, the brief explains, by allowing law enforcement to obtain a warrant that reveals the identities of anyone within the sweep of the geofence, including anyone visiting a nearby newsroom, marching in protest on the streets outside, or gathering to worship in the church next door. To safeguard the expressive freedoms implicated by geofence searches, the brief urges the Court to scrupulously apply the Fourth Amendment’s requirements to geofence search warrants and hold that the warrant in Chatrie’s case was unconstitutional.

Status: Briefing ongoing. Oral argument set for April 27, 2026.

Case Information: Chatrie v. United States, No. 25-112 (Supreme Court)