Stanford researchers filed a petition in a San Francisco federal court this week hoping to unseal judicial records that might reveal how the U.S. government forces smartphone companies to decrypt their customer’s private data.

The researchers are seeking to uncover details about the kinds of technical assistance U.S. courts order third parties to provide police, particularly with regards to encryption. A statement by the group published Thursday cited the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s efforts last year to force Apple to decrypt data on a mobile phone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters.

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“Because surveillance orders are usually sealed and often remain so, people do not know what kind of technical assistance the government is entitled to obtain from communications companies under current law,” CIS Director of Civil Liberties Jennifer Granick said in a statement. “We want to know whether the FBI has asked for or successfully obtained court orders to turn on microphones or cameras in cars, laptops, and mobile phones, or to use smart TVs or other audio- and video-enabled Internet-connected devices for wiretapping.

“This knowledge will inform public debate at a time when the FBI is pushing for even greater surveillance powers.”

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