TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Aug 13, 2025

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is using phone-hacking technology to unlock and extract data from smartphones, according to the Nashville Scene. Digital investigation software provider Magnet Forensics said last year that the department uses a suite of its products, including GrayKey, to access data from suspects’ devices. GrayKey can retrieve text messages, call logs, app data, location history and even deleted files. Murfreesboro, Smyrna and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also have licenses with Magnet Forensics. An MNPD spokesperson said about 90% of all department investigations now involve digital evidence. Digital privacy advocates warn the technology allows law enforcement to access more data than necessary for an investigation and could be abused without proper oversight.