Privacy Ends Where the Cell Tower Begins

A federal judge in Nevada just confirmed the obvious. When cops scoop up the private data of thousands of people through a practice known as a “tower dump,” that’s a search. A big one. An unconstitutional one. Then, with a straight face, the same judge allowed police to keep the evidence they got from it because they (supposedly) meant well.

This is how American justice handles mass surveillance now. Step one, violate the Fourth Amendment. Step two, say you didn’t know you were doing it. Step three, win.