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Back in 2014, Riley v. California said police generally need a warrant to search a cellphone—even during an arrest. The Court noted that phones hold your whole digital life, not just what's in your pocket.

Riley wasn't just about arrests. The Court’s rationale means lower courts must re-examine every warrant exception when a cellphone is involved. Old rules made for wallets and glove boxes don't automatically apply to searches of the devices that hold your texts, photos, and location history.

Schools have their own exception: T.L.O. (1985) lets administrators search students and their belongings without a warrant if the search is reasonable and tied to school discipline. This makes sense for backpacks and lockers.