Supreme Court Declines to Rule on Warrantless Pole Camera Surveillance

This week, the Supreme Court declined to review the decision in Tuggle v. United States in which the Seventh Circuit had ruled that long-term, continuous, and warrantless pole camera surveillance of a home did not violate the Fourth Amendment. EPIC and a coalition co-authored an amicus brief last November supporting Supreme Court review. The coalition’s amicus brief called attention to rapid technological advancements in pole camera technology that make this surveillance more invasive and less costly than previously available tools. The brief also highlighted the disproportionate burden borne by those unable to use fences and other measures to preserve their privacy, such as non-homeowners and lower income people. EPIC regularly files amicus briefs in Fourth Amendment cases and remains committed to countering police surveillance and protecting constitutional rights to privacy.