Police Use of GPS Devices Questioned by U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court justices raised the specter of George Orwell’s novel “1984” as they questioned whether police officers should have unbridled freedom to place GPS devices on cars to track criminal suspects.

Hearing arguments in Washington, the court today voiced concern that the pervasive government surveillance envisioned by Orwell might become reality, as the justices debated whether police need a warrant before using global-positioning system technology. The hour-long session produced no clear answer, other than a consensus that the decision could have far-reaching implications.