Senate to consider new electronic communications privacy law

The Senate Judiciary Committee is moving forward with updating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986. The renewed version of the bill would include improved privacy protection for email accounts, requiring law enforcement officials, with a few exceptions, to obtain a warrant from a judge before gaining access to messages in individual accounts stored electronically. Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the committee and the architect of the original bill, is leading to effort to reform it.

“Like many Americans, I am concerned about the growing and unwelcome intrusions into our private lives in cyberspace,” Mr. Leahy said. “I also understand that we must update our digital privacy laws to keep pace with the rapid advances in technology.”

Opponents of the bill, however, argue it does too much to tie the hands of law enforcement and compromises public safety.  Ranking Member Senator Chuck Grassley cited several concerns with the bill in its current form and wanted to make exceptions for emergencies like kidnapping or rape. As such, many are skeptical the bill will be passed very soon.