**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCATION: Washington, D.C.

DATE: [Current Date]

HEADLINE: Supreme Court Splits 6-3 in Landmark Privacy Ruling; Majority Opinion Deals Major Blow to Federal Surveillance Powers

BODY:

In a closely watched decision delivered this morning, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a 6-3 ruling in the case of Carter v. United States, fundamentally altering the legal framework governing digital privacy and warrantless data collection by federal law enforcement agencies.

WHO: The justices divided along ideological lines, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the majority, joined by Justices Kavanaugh, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kagan—a coalition that defied typical partisan alignment. Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored a sharp dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Thomas and Alito.

WHAT: The Court held that the government must obtain a judicially authorized warrant—based on probable cause—before accessing a citizen’s historical geolocation data held by third-party service providers. The ruling overturns the long-standing “third-party doctrine,” which for decades permitted law enforcement to collect such records without a warrant.

WHEN: The decision was announced at 10:00 AM Eastern Time, concluding a term marked by high-profile digital rights challenges.

WHERE: The ruling was issued from the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., and carries immediate federal effect, though lower courts are expected to grapple with its application to pending investigations.

WHY (HOW): At the heart of the case was the question of whether the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures extends to digital records shared with commercial entities. The majority argued that the “nature and quantity” of modern geolocation data creates an unprecedented, invasive portrait of an individual’s private life, thus requiring heightened constitutional safeguards. The government, represented by the Department of Justice, argued that public safety