Can Police Search Social Media without a Warrant in SC?

Many of us are familiar with the concept of the Fourth Amendment. While it may be common knowledge that Americans are protected against unlawful searches and seizures by law enforcement under the U.S. Constitution, far less is known regarding potential implications for technological devices—such as smartphones, Apple Watches, iPads, and social media platforms.

In today’s digital age, 90% of the U.S. population are active social media users, making it more important than ever for South Carolina residents to know and exercise their rights appropriately to avoid life-altering criminal repercussions.

Can police search your social media or smartphone without a court-issued search warrant? In this blog, we’ll review whether or not the Fourth Amendment applies to online content in the modern world where social media is king.

Can Law Enforcement Demand Access to Smartphones?

In today’s tech-dominated world, one question that frequently arises is whether police can search your social media accounts without a warrant. To address this issue, we must examine the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding our rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The Fourth Amendment states that U.S. people have the right “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

The fundamental protections afforded by the Fourth Amendment are essential to safeguard against unlawful government intrusion in our private lives, requiring law enforcement to obtain an official search warrant from South Carolina courts before seizing or searching a citizen’s property or person.

Digital Privacy Under the Fourth Amendment

When it comes to the internet, the question of whether police can search online accounts without a search warrant can be confusing and uncertain. With 150 million Americans using TikTok and over 186 million U.S. Facebook users in 2023, it’s more vital than ever to know when our digital privacy rights have been violated.

Do the protections afforded to us by the Fourth Amendment extend to our smartphones and online presence, such as social media platforms? It’s safe to say that we can expect state legislation to continue evolving as artificial intelligence (AI) and similar technologies continue to evolve over time.

Although courts may struggle to effectively and consistently apply U.S. laws to an increasingly digital society, past rulings may prove useful to advance the conversation and clarify the complex landscape of online privacy, including:

• Georgia v. Brown – In this 2013 case, the court ruled that police must have a warrant to search a suspect’s private messages on social media platforms, emphasizing that privacy rights extend to digital communications and social media platforms.
• South Carolina v. Smith – In this 2018 case, the court found that the defendant's consent to search social media messages was voluntary and legally effective, leading to the admissibility of evidence obtained from those messages and highlighting the importance of consent in electronic searches.

In addition to consent, other key elements to consider in the event of a digital search or seizure include:

• Privacy rights – Individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their social media accounts, and law enforcement generally needs a warrant to search private messages or non-publicly accessible information.
• Probable cause – To obtain a warrant for a social media search, law enforcement must show probable cause that the search will uncover evidence related to a crime.
• Exigent circumstances – In certain emergency situations entailing an immediate threat to public safety or the destruction of evidence, courts can permit law enforcement to conduct a social media search without a warrant.

Electronic Searches: Private vs. Public Accounts

While social media can feel like a relatively public space, Americans still have the right to uphold reasonable expectations for online privacy. In South Carolina, law enforcement officers generally need a valid search warrant to search social media messages and non-publicly accessible information. Consent, probable cause, and exigent circumstances can play crucial roles in determining the legality of electronic searches.

Public Social Media Accounts

More often than not, police donotneed a court-issued search warrantto search publicly accessible information on the internet, such as content shared on public Facebook pages or Instagram Reels. Keep in mind that this legal principle isn’t set in stone. While courts often reach a general consensus on the matter, opinions in such cases can still vary largely at state and local levels.

One example includes Katz v. United States, the 1967 case in which the court ruled that the defendant was entitled to Fourth Amendment protections because such protections apply “to people, not places.”

Private Social Media Accounts

The issue of electronic searches and seizures of private online accounts is far trickier than public accounts, as courts have reached various conclusions on the matter. Some argue that defendants who restrict the general public from accessing online information has a reasonable expectation to privacy.

Other courts have reached the same conclusion, but only if the individual acted with a certain degree of deliberateness to limit public access to the digital content. On the other hand, many others have reached the opposite decision, ruling that no warrant is necessary for all content shared, even in private, because the defendant gives up their right to privacy in doing so.

As technology continues to evolve, the era of automation continues to expand, and artificial intelligence continues to permeate our world in greater ways, it’s essential to stay informed and up-to-date on criminal laws in the state of South Carolina to avoid the unintended penalties of a criminal conviction. An experienced criminal defense attorney can fight to ensure that your rights remain protected under the Fourth Amendment.

Aggressively Defending the Accused in Lexington

Our fierce Lexington advocates at the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC have extensive experience representing the accused in a wide range of criminal cases, from computer crimes to DUI defense. Whether you’re innocent or simply made an honest mistake, our skilled criminal defense attorneys have the specialized skillset and in-depth understanding of criminal laws in South Carolina to advocate for your freedom. When you partner with us, our firm will work closely with you to restore your future and preserve your hard-earned reputation, no matter the stakes.

When facing criminal charges, it’s imperative to turn to a firm you can trust. Call (803) 359-3301 to schedule a consultation with our Lexington attorney.