The Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2025 would create the first federal statutory framework governing Stingray-style devices that mimic cell towers to identify, locate, or intercept transmissions from nearby phones. Federal, state, and local law enforcement would generally need a warrant — backed by a showing that other methods failed or are too dangerous, plus disclosures about disrupted 911, 988, and poison-control calls and whether the device will operate at a protest or other protected-speech gathering — and use would be capped at 30 days per authorization. An emergency exception allows use before a warrant when there is immediate danger, organized-crime activity, or a national-security threat, but agencies must apply for a warrant within 48 hours or destroy the data. The bill carves out Secret Service protective duties, FISA-authorized intelligence collection (with new FISC application rules), prison contraband interdiction systems, FCC and academic testing, and law-enforcement training. Evidence obtained in violation is barred from court, individuals can sue for damages and attorney fees, federal employees face potential discipline, and the DOJ, DHS, DoD, and Intelligence Community Inspectors General must publish annual public reports on how often these devices are used and how many bystander phones they sweep up.
Average Household Impact
- Warrant disclosure scope — must cover disruption to 911, 988, and poison-control calls
- Bystander notification — notice within 90 days for phones swept up by simulators
Civil Liberties
- Warrant requirement — narrow area and time limits required for simulator use
- Protest disclosure mandate — warrants must disclose use at protected-speech gatherings
- Bystander data minimization — destruction required at earliest opportunity
- Secret Service exemption — protective duties carved out of the warrant requirement
- FISA intelligence exemption — FISA simulator use exempt from general prohibition
Criminal Justice & Due Process
- Exclusionary rule — evidence from unlawful simulator use barred from court
- Defense disclosure — defendants must receive simulator-derived evidence against them
- Civil-suit access — targets and bystanders may sue for damages and attorney fees
Transparency & Accountability
- Inspector General reporting — annual public reports from DOJ, DHS, DoD, IC IGs
- DOJ public posting — minimization procedures published on website
- Discipline review requirement — agencies must initiate review for willful violations
Congressional Summary
Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2025This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the use of cell-site simulators. Cell-site simulators (commonly known as Stingrays) are devices that function as or simulate a cell-phone tower to identify, locate, or intercept transmissions from a cell phone for purposes other than providing ordinary commercial mobile services or private mobile services.The framework generally prohibits the knowing use of a cell-site simulator domestically by an individual or entity or the use of a cell-site simulator by an element of the intelligence community outside the United States to conduct surveillance of a U.S. person. It imposes a civil fine on an individual or entity that violates the prohibition and restricts the use of unlawfully acquired information as evidence in a legal proceeding or official proceeding.The framework contains exceptions to permit the use of a cell-site simulator in certain circumstances, such as by a law enforcement agency pursuant to a warrant or by an element of the intelligence community to conduct surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.Finally, an individual who is the subject of unlawful use of a cell-site simulator may bring a private right of action.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-07-29
- Date Added
- 2026-05-28
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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