As I hoped, the ACLU has filed a FOIA request about the “secret” interpretation of the PATRIOT Act that Senators Wyden and Udall referred to during the renewal debate in Congress: In the days before last week’s Patriot Act reauthorization vote, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee raised concerns — see here and here —…
Category: Laws
More States Allow Warrantless Cell Searches
Amy Gahran reports: Think about all the data — photos, videos, text messages, calendar items, apps, call log, voice mail, and e-mail — on your cell phone right now. If you’re arrested, could the police search your cell phone? And would they need a warrant? That depends on which state you’re in. In California, it…
European Data Protection Supervisor criticizes Data Retention Directive
Nathalie Vandystadt reports: The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) – the EU’s advisory body – stated, on 31 May, its view that the EU’s controversial Data Retention Directive “does not meet the requirements imposed by the fundamental rights to privacy and data protection”. The 2006 directive requires all providers of electronic communication services to store…
The Fourth Amendment in a Brave New World
Stephen Treglia writes: The past 12 months have seen an unprecedented shift in the law as it pertains to electronic communications. What makes this recent evolution particularly dramatic are the scope of the shift, the fact that the shift has affected multiple levels of e-communications and that each level of the evolution has headed in…