PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Angry
over revelations of National Security Agency surveillance and frustrated with
what they consider outdated digital privacy laws, state lawmakers around the
nation are proposing bills to curtail the powers of law enforcement to monitor
and track citizens.
Their efforts in at least 14
states are a direct message to the federal government: If you don't take action
to strengthen privacy, we will.
Proponents say the measures
will overhaul the definition of digital privacy and help increase oversight of
specific surveillance tools that law enforcement agencies have been using in
the states that critics say mirrors federal surveillance technology.
The bills include a Colorado
proposal that would limit the retention of images from license plate readers,
an Oregon bill that would require "urgent circumstances" to obtain
cell phone location data and a Delaware plan that increases privacy protections
for text messages.
Republican and Democratic
lawmakers have joined in proposing the measures, reflecting the unusual mix of
political partnerships that have arisen since the NSA revelations that began in
May. Establishment leadership has generally favored the programs, while
conservative limited government advocates and liberal privacy supporters have
opposed them.
Supporters say the measures
are needed because technology has grown to the point that police can digitally
track someone's every move.
As for digital privacy, bills
promoting broader protections against email surveillance have popped up
recently in various states with varying results. One proposal became law in
Texas last year, but a similar measure was vetoed in California where the
governor said it was too onerous for police to follow. But proposals
focused specifically on police surveillance are a new variety.
In Indiana, legislators have
put forward a bill that would ban the warrantless use of a portable device that
can track cell phone movements within a mile, as well as the numbers of
incoming and outgoing calls and text messages. Indiana lawmakers also want to
use warrants to limit the use of tracking devices and surveillance cameras.
Under NSA surveillance
programs that NSA analyst Edward Snowden revealed, the agency sweeps up
information about millions of Americans' phone calls: the number called from,
the number called and the duration of the call.
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