Left/Right Groups Praise Computer Crimes Admendment
The undersigned individuals and organizations wrote last month in support of making changes to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to ensure that it is both strong and properly focused. We mentioned that while the CFAA is an important tool in the fight against cybercrime, its current language is both overbroad and vague. It can be read to encompass not only the hackers and identity thieves the law was intended to cover, but also actors who have not engaged in any activity that can or should be considered a “computer crime.” We write again today to express our appreciation for recent action taken by the Committee on the Judiciary to address our concerns.
Last week, at a markup of Chairman Leahy’s Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2011 (S. 1151), Senator Grassley, with the co-sponsorship of Senators Franken and Lee, introduced an amendment that would fix a large part of the overbreadth problem in the CFAA. In particular, the amendment would remove the possibility that the statute could be interpreted to allow felony prosecutions of “access in violation of a contractual obligation or agreement, such as an acceptable use policy or terms of service agreement, with an Internet service provider, Internet website, or non-government employer, if such violation constitutes the sole basis for determining that access to a protected computer is unauthorized.” The amendment passed with bipartisan support, including that of Chairman Leahy himself.
CDT-led Coalition Calls for Transparency for White House AI Framework
CDT and Americans for Responsible Innovation led a broad, bipartisan coalition of over two dozen civil society groups in calling on the White House to release its Framework for review of frontier AI models.
CDT Amicus Brief Calls on Fourth Circuit to Rein In Geofence Warrants
Earlier this year the Supreme Court ruled in Chatrie v United States that the Fourth Amendment protected all cell phone location information, which CDT lauded as a landmark decision, but sent the case back down to the Fourth Circuit to assess the propriety of the geofence warrant at issue.
CDT and Partners Post Floor Alert Opposing CA SB 1013 Automated License Plate Readers Bill
The best way to ensure that Automated License Plate Readers are not abused is to limit the retention of stored data and to keep loopholes to lawful process closed. CA SB 1013 is a step in the wrong direction, and we urge the California legislature to reject this approach.
British Public Oppose Secret Surveillance Powers and Want Strong Protections for Encrypted Communications
CDT released nationally representative polling data revealing that a the British public are broadly concerned about the security, privacy, and free speech consequences of allowing law enforcement to access encrypted communications.
