Criminal investigation

Law enforcement needs a search warrant just to look at the lock screen on your smartphone, Seattle judge rules as robbery suspect says FBI turned on his phone and viewed the screen

Law enforcement needs a search warrant just to look at the lock screen on a suspect's smartphone, according to a ruling by a Seattle judge. 

Judge John Coughenour made a shock ruling in the US District Court in Seattle Monday that the FBI violated a robbery suspect's constitutional rights when an agent turned on his phone and viewed the screen. 

Coughenour said that looking at an individual's lock screen is classed as a search meaning law enforcement cannot do this without a search warrant.

The decision means evidence gained by law enforcement from the cellphone screen belonging to Joseph Sam - who was arrested for robbery and assault in May 2019 - has now been thrown out.