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By Miriam Raftery
February 7, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – In today’s polarized Congress, it’s rare for anything to pass with unanimous support. But the Email Privacy Act, which would require law enforcement to obtain a warrant before searching or accessing Americans’ emails, has passed the House with no votes in opposition.
Congressman Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) released this statement on his vote in support: "If the government wants to read your emails, then they should be required to obtain a warrant just like they would need in order to read your letters, search your hard drive or listen in on your phone calls. Technology has made incredible advances over the years, but the privacy laws for digital communications just haven't kept pace.”
He adds, “Right now, the rules governing how and when the government can access a person's emails, photos, documents and other online communications are outdated and do not provide for the same Fourth Amendment protections given to on-paper or in-person communications. The bill we've passed today is an important privacy safeguard that will help cement Americans' rights in the digital age."
The Email Privacy Act is backed by privacy advocates, tech industry representatives, limited-government groups and business organizations including the ACLU, the Consumer Technology Association, the US Chamber of Commerce, FreedomWorks, the Internet Association and more. (full list)
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