If you get arrested in California, the photos, e-mails and other personal data on your mobile phone soon could be a bit safer from prying police eyes soon. A bill passed by the state legislature would require law-enforcement officers to obtain a warrant before searching the mobile phone of a person placed under arrest.
If signed by the governor, the bill would override a January ruling by the California Supreme Court. According to California Senator Mark Leno, who sponsored the legislation, this ruling had legalised the warrantless search of mobile phones during an arrest, regardless of whether the information on the phone is relevant to the arrest or if criminal charges are ever filed
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The new California law unanimously passed in the state Assembly. Governor Jerry Brown has until 9 October to sign it into law, according to a spokesman from the governor’s office.
Under this legislation, California law enforcement officers would have to first obtain a search warrant when there is probable cause to believe a suspect’s portable electronic device contains evidence of a crime
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