Prosecutors use phones as important evidence in criminal cases

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Prosecutors use phones as important evidence in criminal cases

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Take a second and check your phone. It knows where you slept last night. Who sent the text. What you searched for. Where you drove.

For investigators, that information can quickly turn into evidence. In fact, a major new survey found smartphones are now appearing in almost every criminal investigation.

In other words, your phone can be the starting point for crime. And that should pay attention.

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Investigators say smartphones act as a “crime case in your pocket,” storing messages, GPS history and payment records. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)

Why smartphones have become the focus of criminal investigations

Your phone is always with you. Enters:

Messages and conversations
Photos and videos
GPS location history
Application function
Phone calls
Payment records

According to the 2026 Industry Trends Report from Cellebrite, a digital forensics company that provides tools for law enforcement and investigators, smartphones are now the most cited source of digital evidence in 97% of criminal cases. The report shows that mobile phone data can reveal where a person has been, who they interact with and daily life patterns.

For that reason, many law enforcement officers now define a smartphone as “crime scene in your pocket” to show how much these resources contribute to the investigation. Those words may sound surprising. It is not. It shows how investigations are conducted now in the US and around the world. In many criminal cases, phone data is always helpful:

Reconstruct timelines using mobile site and GPS data
Place suspects near crime scenes
Confirm or refute alibis
Recover deleted messages
Track digital payments

Police organizations have testified in court that smartphone deployments help establish a sequence of events faster than traditional methods. Modern police officers no longer rely solely on fingerprints and surveillance footage. It usually starts with digital steps.

Real situations where phone data makes a difference

This is happening in the courts right now. For example, in the prosecution tied to the serial killings at Gilgo Beach in New York, investigators relied heavily on hotline data, web site records and digital communications to connect the suspect to the victims. Mobile records have facilitated small movements, connecting devices and supporting important search warrants.

In the ongoing University of Idaho murder case, prosecutors are relying on smartphone location data, digital map history and phone activity logs to build a timeline. Local records helped place the suspect’s phone near the crime scene at a critical time.

Fraud investigations across the US tell a similar story. In major love scams and crypto investment schemes, law enforcement is now using smartphone chat logs, transaction screenshots and crypto wallet methods to track the money. Evidence of Cryptocurrency can be seen in the growing share of cases as the number of online scams increases.

The pattern is clear. Phone data can protect the innocent by confirming where someone has been. It can also target messages, searches and digital payments.

Here’s what matters most to everyday Americans. Even if you don’t commit a crime, your phone creates a detailed and permanent record of your life. And in today’s justice system, that history carries real weight.

BRYAN KOHBERGER’S CALL RECORDS REVEALED A SERIOUS SEARCH AFTER POLICE LEFT KEY DETAILS.

Bryan Kohberger sits on the court in an orange jumpsuit.

Bryan Kohberger appeared at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on July 23, 2025, to be sentenced in the University of Idaho murder case, where prosecutors relied heavily on cell phone location data and digital evidence. (Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images)

The rise of crypto and AI in criminal cases

The report reveals another important trend. Cryptocurrency is now the fastest growing source of proof. Investigators cited crypto data in 22% of cases, largely due to the explosion of online scams and fraud. If you’ve followed ransomware attacks or crypto investment scams, this makes sense. Payments are leaving the blockchain. Law enforcement is increasingly after the money.

Meanwhile, 65% of detectives believe that AI tools can speed up investigations. A typical case may require up to 35 hours of digital review. About 60% of that time goes to sorting and checking the data. That creates pressure. And stress can lead to mistakes.

Experts warn that generative AI can deliver convincing but inaccurate results if no one double-checks it.

Hidden issues behind digital evidence

The report also highlights the challenges that investigators face behind the scenes. More than half of the devices come locked. Many investigators report difficulty accessing iOS and Android phones due to constant software updates and encryption. Many teams still review the evidence manually. Only a small share of users use advanced analytics tools to connect data across devices and cases. In addition, agency leaders say training gaps and increased data volumes are slowing investigations and stretching resources. As digital evidence grows, so do pressure points within the system.

What does this mean to you?

Here is the part that most people miss. Even if you never plan to break the law, your phone can:

Put it in place
Show who you were with
Reveal what you searched for
Create private conversations
List your purchases

Sometimes that helps. It can prove an alibi. It can clear your name. Sometimes, it raises serious privacy questions. Who has access to your data? How long is it kept? How safe is it handled?

In most criminal investigations, law enforcement must obtain a warrant or other legal process authorized by a court to access the contents of your phone. But the amount of data these devices carry has exploded. And that changes the stakes.

Smartphone data and the growing privacy debate

We live in an age where digital evidence is central to modern justice. That helps solve crimes. It protects the victims. It expedites the investigation. But it also means that the device in your pocket contains a map of your life.

With smartphone digital evidence at the center of 97% of cases, we need to ask tough questions about privacy, oversight and AI accuracy. Because once the data is there, it can be used.

5 TOP TIPS FOR IMPROVING DIGITAL PRIVACY

The smartphone is placed in a plastic proof case.

Smartphones now appear in 97% of criminal investigations, and law enforcement relies on mobile data to reconstruct timelines and track down suspects. (Boris Roessler/photo alliance via Getty Images)

Tech tips: Protect your digital footprint

You cannot eliminate your digital footprint. But you can reduce unnecessary exposure.

1) Update local settings

Always close to reach the place for applications that do not require it. On iPhone and Android, set most apps to “While Using” instead of “Always.”

2) Use encrypted messages

Apps like Signal and WhatsApp use end-to-end encryption, which means that messages are encrypted so that only you and the recipient can read them. Apple’s iMessage also uses end-to-end encryption for conversations between Apple devices. Strong encryption protects your messages from hackers and data breaches. This is also why law enforcement can often read the content of a message without access to a mobile device. Remember that encryption protects the content of the message, not everything around it. Metadata such as who communicated with whom may still exist.

3) Turn off cloud backups

Check if your messages and photos are backed up to the cloud. Cloud data can be part of the investigation.

4) Enable strong authentication

Use a long passcode, not a simple four-digit PIN. Turn on biometric security and two-factor authentication (2FA).

5) Think before you search

Search history, voice assistant queries and in-app messages often live longer than you might expect.

6) Keep your phone updated

Security updates patch vulnerabilities that are exploited by hackers. They also protect your data from being stolen through a breach.

Take my questions: How secure is your internet security?

Think your devices and data are really protected? Take these quick questions to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized explanation of what you’re doing well and what needs improvement. Take my questions here: Cyberguy.com.

Kurt’s priority is taking

Your phone is no longer just a communication tool. It is a timeline, a diary and a witness. For law enforcement, that’s powerful. For you, it’s a reminder that simplicity pays off. The next time you tap “Allow” on a permission request, remember this. You don’t just install an app. Add some input to your digital twin.

If your phone tells the story of your life, who should control that story when it matters most? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning technology journalist with a deep passion for technology, gear and gadgets that make life better through his Fox News & FOX Business morning contributions to “FOX & Friends.” Have a technical question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, story idea or comment on CyberGuy.com.