Taking charge of your cellphone privacy rights

What are my rights?

If a police officer stops me, are they entitled to look through my phone?
  • Yes
  • No

The amount of personal information we carry around with us in our cellphones is staggering. They contain records of our social connections, our finances, and much more. Keeping this information safe and secure is more important than ever. Learn how to take charge of your cellphone privacy rights.

What you should know

Prevent problems

Who can help

  • This information applies to British Columbia, Canada
  • Reviewed for legal accuracy in May 2022
  • Time to read: 12 minutes

Reviewed for legal accuracy by

Courtenay Catlin, Alexander Holburn

Courtenay Catlin

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Options for legal help

We are grateful to work on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, whose Peoples continue to live on and care for these lands.