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New Rules for Cell-Site Simulator Use by Law Enforcement

This act establishes strict rules for law enforcement and intelligence agencies regarding the use of cell-site simulators. It limits their deployment, generally requiring a court warrant and ensuring the protection of citizens' privacy. The goal is to enhance data security and communication privacy for individuals.
Key points
Court Warrant Required: Law enforcement will generally need a court warrant to use cell-site simulators, except in immediate emergencies involving danger to life or national security.
Privacy Protection: Information collected from non-targets must be minimized and destroyed. Illegally obtained data cannot be used as evidence in court.
Transparency and Oversight: The Attorney General must publish data minimization procedures, and Inspectors General will annually report to Congress on the use of these devices.
Citizen Rights: Individuals whose devices were affected by a cell-site simulator have the right to be notified and can pursue civil action for unlawful use.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_4022
Sponsor: Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33]
Process start date: 2021-06-21
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_4022.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-06-21.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Court Warrant Required: Law enforcement will generally need a court warrant to use cell-site simulators, except in immediate emergencies involving danger to life or national security.
  • Privacy Protection: Information collected from non-targets must be minimized and destroyed. Illegally obtained data cannot be used as evidence in court.
  • Transparency and Oversight: The Attorney General must publish data minimization procedures, and Inspectors General will annually report to Congress on the use of these devices.
  • Citizen Rights: Individuals whose devices were affected by a cell-site simulator have the right to be notified and can pursue civil action for unlawful use.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Security