Chatrie v. United States · ¶102
Because Mr. Chatrie’s Location History data is his effect, it is subject to the Fourth Amendment’s restrictions when the government searches it. So, was there a search? The government conducts a search when it “ ‘look[s] over or through for the purpose of finding something.’” Id., at 32, n. 1 (quoting N. Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language 66 (1828) (reprint 6th ed. 1989)). Under our precedents, none of which the government asks us to overrule, a search equally transpires when government officials enlist private parties in that task. See Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Assn., 489 U. S. 602, 614 (1989) (Fourth Amendment “protects against” searches “effected” by a private party “if the private party acted as an instrument or agent of the Government”). And that’s exactly what occurred here: The government conducted a search both when it compelled Google to rummage…Read in context ›
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