Robert J. Anello and Richard F. Albert write: Three recent district court decisions exemplify how courts have struggled with the Fourth Amendment questions raised by the intrusive nature of cellphone searches. Cellphones present Fifth Amendment problems too, as discussed in our June 9, 2021, article, “Hey SIRI, Does the Fifth Amendment Protect My Passcode?” As…
Category: U.S.
Newly Effective Florida Law Imposing Criminal Sanctions Adds to Developing Nationwide Patchwork of State Genetic Privacy Laws
Libbie Canter and Rebecca Yergin of Covington and Burling write: [On] October 1, the Protecting DNA Privacy Act (HB 833), a new genetic privacy law, went into effect in the state of Florida establishing four new crimes related to the unlawful use of another person’s DNA. While the criminal penalties in HB 833 are notable,…
New Records Reveal Scope of DEA Spying on 2020 Racial Justice Protests
Rebecca Jacobs and Hajar Hammado (CREW) write: The Drug Enforcement Administration approved at least 51 requests from state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to conduct covert surveillance during racial justice protests last summer, according to records obtained by CREW. The nationwide surveillance operation occurred in cities including Los Angeles, Tampa, Denver, and St. Louis, and involved agents…
Legal Implications of Facebook Hearing for Whistleblowers & Employers – Privacy Issues on Many Levels
Rachel Popa, Jessica Scheck, and Chandler Ford write: On Sunday, October 3rd, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen publicly revealed her identity on the CBS television show 60 Minutes. Formerly a member of Facebook’s civic misinformation team, she previously reported them to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a variety of concerning business practices, including lying to investors and amplifying the…