YVN Summary
\n\nPolice would need a warrant before using a fake cell tower to find a phone. These devices, often called Stingrays, act like a real cell tower. Every phone nearby connects to them, not just the phone police want. A judge could approve their use for up to 30 days at a time. Police would first have to show that other methods failed or would be too risky.\n\nIf your phone got swept up, the government would have to erase what it collected. People named in the warrant would get a letter within 90 days. It would say whether their phone was tracked or their calls were heard. A judge could delay that letter for good reason. Police would also have to tell the judge if they plan to use the device at a protest. They would have to report any risk of blocking 911, 988, or poison-control calls.\n\nAnyone tracked illegally could sue for up to $500 per violation, plus lawyer fees. Data gathered illegally could not be used in court. Illegal use could bring a fine of up to $250,000. The bill would still allow use without a warrant in an emergency, such as a threat to someone's life. Police would then have 48 hours to ask a judge, or destroy what they collected. Prisons, the Secret Service, the FCC, and researchers would be exempt under set rules. None of this would start for two years after it became law. Devices already in use could get a third year.
","status":"COMMITTEE_CONSIDERATION","topics":["ECONOMY","DEFENSE","ENERGY"],"introducedAt":"2025-07-29T00:00:00+00:00","latestActionAt":"2025-07-29T00:00:00+00:00","congressGovUrl":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4811","accountabilityFlags":{"civil_liberties":["↑ Warrant required for fake cell towers — 30-day limit","↑ Protest use must be disclosed to the judge","↑ Surveillance targets get written notice — within 90 days","↑ Bystander phone data must be destroyed quickly","↓ Emergency use allowed without a warrant — 48 hours to apply","↑ You can sue over illegal tracking — up to $500 each","↑ Spy agencies need court orders to target Americans"],"criminal_justice":["↓ Evidence from illegal tracking barred from court","↑ Fines up to $250,000 for illegal phone tracking","↑ Defendants must be shown tracking evidence against them"],"transparency_accountability":["↑ Yearly public reports on every government use","↑ Justice Department must post its privacy rules publicly","↑ Agencies must open discipline cases for deliberate violations"]},"tldr":"Sets warrant rules for Stingray phone trackers, and lets people sue if police break them.","summaryStandard":"v2","flagExplainers":{"civil_liberties":["Police could use one of these devices only with a judge's warrant. Each warrant would last up to 30 days, and could be renewed.","The warrant request would have to say if the device will mainly be used at a protest. That covers any gathering protected by free-speech rights.","People named in the warrant would get a letter within 90 days. It would say whether their phone was tracked, and a judge could delay it for good cause.","Nearby phones connect to these devices too. Data about people who are not the target would have to be erased at the first chance.","Police could turn the device on first if someone is in danger right away. They would then have 48 hours to ask a judge, or erase what they got.","Anyone tracked illegally could sue the person or agency that did it. A court could award up to $500 per violation, plus damages and lawyer fees.","Spy agencies could target a U.S. person only under a special court order. The same tests for narrow time and area would apply."],"criminal_justice":["Data from a device used illegally could not be used in any trial or hearing. The one exception is a case about the illegal use itself.","Any person or company that knowingly uses one of these devices outside these rules could be fined up to $250,000.","If prosecutors use data from one of these devices, they would have to hand that data to the defendant."],"transparency_accountability":["Watchdogs at four agencies would publish one joint report each year. It would count each use, each bystander phone swept up, and each device loaned to local police.","The Attorney General would write rules on what agencies may keep about people who are not targets. Those rules would go on the department's website.","If a court finds an agency broke these rules on purpose, it must open a discipline case. Choosing not to would mean telling its watchdog why."]},"flagValence":{"civil_liberties":["contested","good","good","good","contested","good","contested"],"criminal_justice":["contested","contested","good"],"transparency_accountability":["good","good","good"]},"needsResummary":false,"displaySummaryHtml":null,"rawStatusText":"Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), Armed Services, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.","chamber":"HOUSE","policyArea":"Crime and Law Enforcement","legislativeSubjects":[],"lawStatus":null,"lawNumber":null,"latestActionText":null,"latestTextVersion":null,"textVersionUsed":null,"dateAdded":"2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00","summarizedAt":"2026-08-09T06:17:43+00:00","recordId":"bfcac66f-871f-451e-a1e5-e3bbcb8ca3c2","feedIdentityKey":"119/hr/4811","websiteBillId":"HR-4811","yourvoiceSummary":"Police would need a warrant before using a fake cell tower to find a phone. These devices, often called Stingrays, act like a real cell tower. Every phone nearby connects to them, not just the phone police want. A judge could approve their use for up to 30 days at a time. Police would first have to show that other methods failed or would be too risky.\n\nIf your phone got swept up, the government would have to erase what it collected. People named in the warrant would get a letter within 90 days. It would say whether their phone was tracked or their calls were heard. A judge could delay that letter for good reason. Police would also have to tell the judge if they plan to use the device at a protest. They would have to report any risk of blocking 911, 988, or poison-control calls.\n\nAnyone tracked illegally could sue for up to $500 per violation, plus lawyer fees. Data gathered illegally could not be used in court. Illegal use could bring a fine of up to $250,000. The bill would still allow use without a warrant in an emergency, such as a threat to someone's life. Police would then have 48 hours to ask a judge, or destroy what they collected. Prisons, the Secret Service, the FCC, and researchers would be exempt under set rules. None of this would start for two years after it became law. Devices already in use could get a third year.","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T01:36:49.465318+00:00"}