Facts of the Case
What was Katz accused of doing that led to the Supreme Court case?
Making illegal gambling bets using a public phone booth.
What does the Fourth Amendment protect against?
Unreasonable searches and seizures.
Name one modern technology that raises new privacy concerns?
Smartphones, social media, GPS tracking, etc.
What does “public interest” mean in the context of government surveillance?
Actions taken to protect safety, prevent crime, or ensure national security.
Which earlier case established the “trespass doctrine” before Katz?
Olmstead v. United States (1928)
What technology did the FBI use to gather evidence against Katz?
A hidden electronic listening device outside the phone booth.
What is meant by a “reasonable expectation of privacy”?
The belief that one’s personal activities or communications should be free from government intrusion if society recognizes that belief as reasonable.
What is one way social media challenges the idea of a “reasonable expectation of privacy”?
People often share personal information publicly, blurring the line between private and public spaces.
Give one example where public safety might justify limiting privacy rights?
Airport security screenings or tracking potential terror threats.
Which case reaffirmed privacy in marital relations before Katz?
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
Which constitutional amendment was at the center of the case?
The Fourth Amendment.
How did Katz change the way courts interpret the Fourth Amendment?
It shifted the focus from physical locations to individual privacy expectations.
How do companies collect data that might test the limits of privacy law?
Through cookies, apps, and digital tracking of user behavior.
What argument might the government make in favor of surveillance programs?
They help protect citizens from crime or terrorism.
Which case extended privacy to abortion decisions?
Roe v. Wade (1973)
What was the Supreme Court’s ruling in Katz v. United States?
The Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment protects people, not places, establishing a reasonable expectation of privacy.
What legal test later expanded on the Katz decision to include digital data?
The “third-party doctrine” and later cases like Carpenter v. United States (2018) reconsidered it.
How could facial recognition technology relate to the Katz precedent?
It raises questions about whether individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in public spaces.
What argument might individuals make against mass surveillance?
It violates personal privacy and constitutional rights.
Which modern case applied the Katz test to cell phone data?
Carpenter v. United States (2018)
Who wrote the majority opinion in Katz v. United States?
Justice Potter Stewart.
How does the concept of “probable cause” connect to the Katz case?
It defines when the government can lawfully conduct surveillance or searches under the Fourth Amendment.
Do you think Katz v. United States would be decided differently in today’s digital age? Why or why not?
Open-ended; assess reasoning and application of precedent.
How can citizens balance public safety and personal privacy in a democracy?
By supporting oversight, clear laws, and judicial limits on government power.
How does Katz v. United States connect to debates about the Patriot Act or NSA surveillance?
Both raise questions about how far government surveillance can go without violating privacy rights under the Fourth Amendment