Strengthening Online Privacy

The House has recently voted unanimously to strengthen a 30-year-old privacy law governing how and when law enforcement agencies can obtain access to all the things people store online, from photographs to documents to personal emails and more. If enacted, these changes will ensure the law protects digital information in the same way physical information has always been protected. This means law enforcement agencies will need to obtain search warrants from judges before being able to access personal messages or files stored on servers or kept in the cloud. The previous law allowed agencies access to this information simply by issuing subpoenas to technology companies, without ever needing to go to a judge. This update reflects how people largely store their information in a digital manner and shows that this digital information deserves the same protection as it would if it were stored as a physical document instead. While there are many in favor of the proposal to update the law, it may still face opposition from key people. The next step is for Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, to bring the legislation up for a vote. To learn more, visit here.