Police use Google search data via reverse keyword warrants to solve crimes, sparking privacy concerns despite court approval.

Police are using "reverse keyword" warrants to identify suspects by obtaining Google search data on users who searched specific terms linked to crimes, such as a victim’s address or crime scene, helping solve cases like a Texas bombing series, a Colorado arson, and a Pennsylvania rape. In the Pennsylvania case, searches for the victim’s address led to the arrest and conviction of a prison guard who confessed to multiple rapes. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the warrant, citing probable cause, though some justices warned of privacy risks. Privacy advocates argue the method could expose innocent people’s private searches. Google reviews all requests and rejects overly broad ones. The technique is limited by the need for precise, unusual search terms and is not widely used.