Colorado’s Highest Court Upholds Google Keyword Search Warrant
The Colorado Supreme Court has issued a ruling that has conservatives applauding the upholding of a search warrant for a suspect's Google keyword history.
The court's decision allows the prosecution of two suspects in a 2020 fatal arson fire to move forward in adult court, affirming the importance of using all available resources to bring justice to those responsible for the deaths of five Senegalese immigrants.
The case in question involved a search warrant from Denver police, requiring Google to provide the IP addresses of individuals who had searched for the address of the home that was set on fire. This ‘digital dragnet’ led police to identify three teens as suspects, one of whom, Gavin Seymour, sought to have the evidence thrown out on the basis of it being a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Officials investigate a house fire at 5312 Truckee St. after five people were killed inside on Aug. 5, 2020, in Denver.
But the Colorado Supreme Court saw through this argument and ruled in favor of law enforcement, stating that the search warrant was not overly broad and was necessary to identify potential suspects in a targeted attack.
Furthermore, the court emphasized that this decision should not be seen as a "broad proclamation" on the constitutionality of such warrants, but rather a ruling on the specific facts of this case.
Despite some dissent from Justice Monica Marquez, who argued that the wide-ranging search of a billion Google users' search history without a specific target is exactly the kind of violation the Fourth Amendment was designed to prevent, the court ultimately decided in favor of the prosecution. And with the affirmation of the court's decision, the two remaining suspects, Gavin Seymour and Kevin Bui, will face trial for first-degree murder, attempted murder, arson, and burglary.
This ruling not only allows for justice to be served in this specific case, but it also sends a message to criminals that law enforcement will use all methods available to bring them to justice.
As District Attorney John Kellner stated, "We're going to use every tool we have to bring closure to victims' families and make sure that the people who did this, regardless of who they are, are held accountable."
And the court's decision also serves as a reminder that our constitutional rights, while crucially important, do not give criminals a free pass to commit heinous acts. As the court declared, the Fourth Amendment does not protect individuals from lawful searches and seizures when there is sufficient cause to do so.
READ MORE:
JUDGE CALLS OUT COLORADO COMPANY FOR PAYING COURT ORDERED SETTLEMENT WITH 3 TONS OF COINS
COLORADO JUDGES CONVENE FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
COLORADO SUPREME COURT REJECTS DECISION LIMITING LAWYER SPEECH IN CLASS ACTION CASES
A FEDERAL JUDGE TAKES AN AX TO COLORADO’S LIBERAL ABORTION LAWS
In response to the ruling, Google released a statement saying they are committed to protecting the privacy and First Amendment rights of their users but will always comply with law enforcement demands in order to support the important work they do.
As this case moves forward, it serves as a reminder that justice will prevail and those responsible for horrific crimes will be held accountable. And thanks to the Colorado Supreme Court's decision, law enforcement now has another tool to help them in their mission to protect and uphold the law.