It’s Time To Modernize Our Privacy Law

February 7, 2013

Cop Reviews, Crimes, Government Officials, Law Enforcement

It’s Time To Modernize Our Privacy Law

The fallout from the Petraeus scandal has shined a bright light on the out-of-control surveillance powers of the FBI. More and more, people are now learning just how easily the government can access and track our most private communications and activities.

Regardless of how you feel about the former CIA director’s personal transgression, it is certain that one investigation America needs is of the far-reaching surveillance powers the FBI used to look into their private lives.

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WRITE OUR U.S. SENATORS:

Please Update Our Electronic Privacy Law

Federal electronic privacy is stuck in the digital dark ages — the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) hasn’t been updated since 1986. Online privacy law shouldn’t be older than the Web. It’s time to update ECPA because our constitutional rights guaranteed offline apply online as well.

The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) is woefully out of date. It does not adequately protect the privacy of email, search terms, and cloud computing information.

Last year, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy introduced legislation that would robustly protect all personal electronic information, such as e-mail. Unfortunately, Congress adjourned before it could move out of the Committee. Reform, however, can’t wait. Please ask the Senate Judiciary Committee to take speedy action on legislation to finally protect electronic information from invasive government snooping. Current loopholes in our privacy laws allow police to access many types of electronic communications — emails, text messages, private information held by Google and Facebook — with just an administrative subpoena. That means law enforcement can gather tons of information on suspects anytime information is relevant and without ever going to a judge.

Congress must make the Fourth Amendment apply to the 21st century. Digital communications should be protected the same way as letters, records stored in desk drawers and other personal communications — with a warrant based on probable cause.

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