Senate Committee Examines Electronic
Privacy
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard from Obama Administration witnesses
today regarding efforts to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act
(ECPA). The law was intended primarily to apply wiretap law to new
technologies and to protect the public from intrusive searches by
government, but also requires private providers of such communications to
protect data.
Because of the explosion of new technologies, there is widespread support
for updating the law. Today's hearing focused on the Administration's views
on how to protect privacy while still permitting law enforcement to have
access to appropriate information.
Although the focus of the hearing was on government use of technology,
issues of concern to investigators did come up. Several Senators discussed
the use of GPS devices for tracking and other cell phone location services.
There was also some discussion of the commercial use of consumer data on the
Internet.
Testifying for the Administration were Commerce Department General Counsel
Cameron Kerry and Deputy Associate General Counsel James Baker.
NCISS will continue to inform Members of Congress of how access to data is
essential to the conduct of lawful investigations. We will continue to point
out that law enforcement resources are limited, and private investigators
are critical in the fight against fraud and crime.
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Jimmie Mesis 
NCISS Legislative Chairman
NCISS
7501 Sparrows Point Blvd.
Baltimore, Maryland 21219-1927
(800) 445-8408 . Fax: (410)
388-9746
jim@nciss.org
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