Applying “Old” Laws to New Technology: Smartphones, Recordings, Privacy (at FAU)

1st Amendment

Special thanks to attorney / instructor Larry Buck for inviting me to speak to his Florida Atlantic University “Law in the Real World” honors class about my practice, particularly how we apply traditional laws to new, emerging technologies.

We discussed:

  • drone regulation
  • First Amendment and social media (US v. Hobgood, B.L. v. Mahanoy School District)
  • Invasion of Privacy
  • True Threats and Emoji cases
  • Social Media and Legal Ethics
  • Can You Access Someone Else’s Facebook Account? (Florida Computer Crime Act, F.S. 815.06; Mario Crapps v. Florida; Umohefer v. Florida)
  • One and Two Party Consent “Secret Recording” (F.S. 934.03; McDade v. Florida; Belle v. Florida; Florida v. Caraballo)
  • Fifth Amendment and Smartphone passcodes, Touch ID, and Face ID (In the Matter of the Search Warrant Application of ____ (IL); G.A.Q.L. v. Florida; Florida v. Stahl); and
  • Deep Fakes software

If you are interested, the Powerpoint is here.

Internet
Operational Software Essentials (for Lawyers)

I had the opportunity to make a brief presentation to the members of the Solo & Small Firm Committee of the Palm Beach Bar Association regarding Operational Software Essentials for small law firms and solo lawyers. I appreciate the invitation and the excellent attendees. The Powerpoint of the presentation is …

iOS
Use of iPhone to Find a Bank to Rob and Use of iPhone Police Scanner App Leads to Conviction (McCarthy v. Dept. Corrections)

A Florida jury found Shola McCarthy of robbing a bank and using a police scanner in violation of 843.167(1)(a), Fla. Stat., which prohibits interception of police radio “to assist in committing a crime or to escape from or avoid… arrest… In connection with the commission of such crime.” In 2013, …

5th Amendment
During a DUI Stop, Are Police Required to Tell the Driver that Her Lawyer is on the Phone? (Florida v. Alyssa Abache)

During an investigation of a car crash, police moved one driver away from others, advised her that he was conducting a criminal investigation, and read her Miranda warnings. He then requested that she perform field sobriety exercises. Before beginning, however, another person “held up a cell phone, stated that [the …