Police, federal agencies, and intelligence services would need a warrant to use cell-site simulators (commonly known as Stingrays) under this Senate bill, which adds a new section 3119 to the federal criminal code. The warrant application would have to show that other investigative methods were tried or would fail, specify the narrowest area and time of operation, and disclose any potential disruption to 911 calls, suicide hotline calls, poison control calls, and telecom relay services. Warrants would last no more than 30 days, with 30-day extensions allowed. Unlawful use would carry a fine up to $250,000, evidence collected without a warrant would be inadmissible, and people surveilled could sue for up to $500 per violation plus attorney's fees. Emergency use without a warrant would be allowed for immediate threats to life, organized crime, or national security, but the agency would have 48 hours to apply for one. The bill also amends FISA to impose similar disclosure and necessity rules on foreign-intelligence use, requires annual joint Inspector General reports on compliance and targeting numbers, and takes effect 2 years after enactment.
Civil Liberties
- warrant requirement — added for cell-site simulator use by law enforcement
- exclusionary rule — unwarranted cell-site simulator evidence barred from proceedings
- private civil action — up to $500 per violation plus attorney's fees added
- notice to surveilled persons — inventory served within 90 days of warrant or denial
- FISA cell-site simulator limits — necessity, disclosure, proportionality required
Criminal Justice & Due Process
- emergency warrantless use — allowed for immediate danger, organized crime, national security with 48-hour follow-up warrant
- prosecutorial use of unwarranted evidence — barred under exclusionary rule
Transparency & Accountability
- annual joint Inspector General reports — DOJ, DHS, DOD, IC required to publish unclassified versions
- application disclosures — model testing, disruption risks, protected-activity venues required
- Attorney General minimization procedures — must be published on DOJ website
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
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-07-29
- Date Added
- 2026-05-23
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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