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Council places Cellebrite license renewal on file after commissioner raises privacy concerns
Summary
Council concurred and placed on file a one-year Cellebrite licensing renewal for BSB Detention Center amid questions from Commissioner Butch Gerbrandt about potential "brute force" access to phones; staff said such access requires warrants and is used in internet-children and homicide cases.
The Butte-Silver Bow Council on May 6 agreed to concur and place on file a one-year licensing renewal for Cellebrite software requested for the detention center, while a commissioner raised privacy concerns about how the technology is used.
Jessica LeProwse, Law Enforcement Project Analyst, asked the Council to authorize Chief Executive Gallagher to sign the renewal quote with Carahsoft for Cellebrite licensing (Communication 2026-213). Commissioner Butch Gerbrandt questioned the use of the software and expressed concern about possible intrusion into privacy, using the phrase "brute force" to describe his worry about forced access to phones.
A staff member identified in the discussion as Lester responded that "brute force" in this context refers to attempts to access a device that would require a search warrant; he said the tool is used with legal process in complex investigations such as internet crimes against children and some homicide cases, and that the county does not use un-warranted bypass methods. After discussion, the item was concurred and placed on file with a unanimous consent motion.
The renewal is for continued licensing and does not itself expand search authority. The Council’s action documented concurrence with the procurement; policy or use procedures for the software were not adopted at this meeting.
