Police sweep Google searches to find suspects. The tactic is facing its first legal challenge.

[enaph]

Content source

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-google-reverse-keyword-searches-rcna35749

A teen charged with setting a fire that killed five members of a Senegalese immigrant family in Denver, Colorado, has become the first person to challenge police use of Google search histories to find someone who might have committed a crime, according to his lawyers.

The pushback against this surveillance tool, known as a reverse keyword search, is being closely watched by privacy and abortion rights advocates, who are concerned that it could soon be used to investigate women who search for information about obtaining an abortion in states where the procedure is now illegal.

Police used a reverse keyword Google search to find an accused killer. He says that's illegal.

Privacy advocates are watching the case closely, concerned that police could use reverse keyword searches to investigate people who seek information about abortions.

www.nbcnews.com