Leaving Dumb Phones Behind: A Commentary on the Warrantless Searches of Smartphone Data Granted in R. v. Fearon

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology, Vol. 13 pp 171-189, 2015

20 Pages Posted: 22 Apr 2017

See all articles by Jordan Fine

Jordan Fine

York University, Osgoode Hall Law School, Students

Date Written: June 29, 2015

Abstract

Given the incredible rate of smartphone technological evolution, is it about time the Supreme Court of Canada devised a special test to give law enforcement agents significantly more power to search through phone data without a warrant upon arrest of a suspect? In R. v. Fearon, the majority did just that. But this article argues the opposite is true: the increasing potential for immense privacy infringements when police search powerful and constantly evolving technological devices demands a greater limitation to police powers. In recent cases, the Supreme Court has agreed with the position that limitations are needed concerning computers. Additionally, the weaknesses in law enforcement procedure described by the majority are already served sufficiently by existing principles which do not infringe Canadians’ Charter rights. Future cases should distinguish the majority decision for these reasons and recognize the thoughtful and practical dissent. Otherwise, there is a danger that this unreasonable expansion of police power to search citizens, combined with anticipated technological evolution in both smartphones and government surveillance initiatives, will have a corrosive effect on the freedom guaranteed to Canadians by section 8 of the Charter.

Keywords: Fearon, Search and Seizure, Supreme Court of Canada, Unreasonable Search, Smartphones, Cell Phones, Canadian Criminal Law, Criminal Law, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Search Incidental to Arrest, Exigent Circumstances, Waterfield Doctrine

JEL Classification: K14

Suggested Citation

Fine, Jordan, Leaving Dumb Phones Behind: A Commentary on the Warrantless Searches of Smartphone Data Granted in R. v. Fearon (June 29, 2015). Canadian Journal of Law and Technology, Vol. 13 pp 171-189, 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2956387

Jordan Fine (Contact Author)

York University, Osgoode Hall Law School, Students ( email )

North York, Ontario
Canada

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