CDT is joining a politically diverse coalition to launch VanishingRights.com, a campaign to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA).
ECPA was passed in 1986. It sets out rules for when the government can access our digital information – and it’s woefully out of date.
Under ECPA, the government says stored email, other information in the cloud, and location data generated by mobile devices does not receive full Fourth Amendment protection – meaning the government can access it without a warrant. Postal mail and phone calls, on the other hand, receive full Fourth Amendment protection. The distinction makes no sense.
On November 15, the Senate Judiciary Committee could take a big step toward bringing privacy law into the 21st Century when it votes on ECPA reform.
This is a critical vote. Bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee is needed to advance ECPA reform in the Senate. The best hope for Republican support on the Judiciary Committee likely rests with Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee. However, the Senators need to hear from their constituents – especially from those in the Utah tech community who are affected by this outdated law.
VanishingRights.com provides phone numbers for Members of the Judiciary Committee. If you care about digital privacy rights, please take a few moments before November 15 to call and ask your Senators to support strong ECPA reform and to oppose any weakening amendments.
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.
