Utah Bill Would Ban Warrantless Access to Information in the Cloud, Help Hinder Federal Surveillance

Mike Maharrey writes:

A bill filed in the Utah House would require police to get a warrant before accessing data stored in the “cloud.” The proposed law would not only increase privacy protections in Utah; it would also hinder the federal surveillance state.

Rep. Craig Hall (R-West Valley City) filed House Bill 57 (HB57) on Dec. 28. The proposed law would prohibit law enforcement agencies from accessing electronic information or data transmitted to a “remote computing service” without a warrant in most situations. In effect, it would prohibit police from warrantlessly accessing information uploaded into the “cloud.”

HB57 would expand existing laws already on the books in Utah requiring police to get a warrant before accessing location information, stored data, and transmitted data from an electronic device.