Can My Cell Phone Usage Be Evidence in My Connecticut Criminal Case?

 Posted on July 28, 2020 in Criminal Defense

In today’s world, our cell phones have become a normal and natural part of our lives. Even just 20 years ago, most people did not own a mobile phone, and the ones who did own them had phones that were nowhere near as powerful as the ones we have today. Smartphones are convenient for many everyday tasks, but they also pose valid privacy concerns for users because of data collection from nearly every app on your device. In some cases, this data may even be used to arrest, charge, or even convict you of a crime in Connecticut.

How Is My Data Being Collected?

Many cell phone users’ personal data is being collected, stored, and sold off without their knowledge. You may wonder how this might happen - the apps on your phone, in fact, are responsible for most of this data collection. Data trackers are hidden and embedded into many apps that are readily available on the App Store and Google Play. These trackers collect all kinds of information and personal data about you, sell it, and transmit it to various third parties, who are often advertisers. However, advertisers are not the only ones interested in personal data. Recently, it was discovered that location data was being sold to law enforcement to help detain undocumented immigrants.

What Kind of Data Is Being Collected?

Almost anything you do with an electronic device leaves some sort of trail. In other words, nothing digital ever actually disappears, even if you delete it. Forensic data specialists know how to extract data from different devices and databases when officials request help in obtaining information for criminal matters. Some common types of data that your cell phone stores that could contain evidence include:

• Text messages (deleted and existing ones on the phone)

• Call logs (who you called and when the calls were made)

• Location data

• Internet browsing history

• Email records

Contact a Hartford, CT Criminal Defense Attorney

Having a cell phone that can do things such as learn your sleep schedule and warn you of any traffic before you head out to work can be helpful, but it also means that our devices are able to learn and store much more information about ourselves than we may even realize. If you have been charged with a crime in Connecticut, there is a possibility that your cell phone could be seized for evidence pertaining to the case. At the Woolf Law Firm, LLC, we have assisted clients with various criminal matters in the Greater Hartford area for more than 20 years. To begin discussing your case with our qualified and diligent East Hartford, CT criminal defense lawyers, call us today at 860-290-8690 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/7/8/21311533/sdks-tracking-data-location

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/10/business/location-data-privacy-apps.html

https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-agencies-use-cellphone-location-data-for-immigration-enforcement-11581078600