Member Center

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Greater email privacy won't hinder law enforcement

Posted: Nov 29, 2012 2:43 AM by Associated Press

Bookmark and Share
Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Legal experts say Senate legislation billed as a major step forward in protecting the privacy of electronic communications won't keep law enforcement agencies from combing through inboxes if they believe a crime has been committed.

The legislation, which the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider today, would update a 26-year-old law by requiring police to secure a search warrant from a judge before accessing the content of all emails and other private information from Google, Yahoo and other Internet providers. Under the current law, the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, a warrant is needed only for emails less than 6 months old.

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the Democratic committee chairman, says the change would "remedy the erosion of the public's privacy rights under the rapid advances of technology."

PLEASE HELP US MODERATE COMMENTS

Offensive or inappropriate comments are subject to removal. To report a comment, please e-mail us at feedback@ksby.com, and include the name of the story and information on the comment.

Thank you! KSBY.com


Comments

KSBY.COM VIDEOS

A local search dog foundation is getting some help

KSBY.com is social!

Most Popular

Thumbnail
My 805 Deals

Get deals up to 80% off here!

Thumbnail
Lowest Gas Prices

Find the lowest gas prices in your area

Thumbnail
Viewer Photo Galleries

Submit your photos to KSBY

Thumbnail
Calendar

Check out our calendar of events

Thumbnail
Daybreak Web Videos

Watch Daybreak Web Videos in full

Thumbnail
Hot Deals

Save with Hot Deals across our counties!

Thumbnail
Local Spotlight

Events across the Central Coast

Thumbnail
Central Coast CW5

Follow The CW5 on Facebook.

Thumbnail
Public File

The KSBY online public file.

Thumbnail
Feedback

What do you think? Leave us your feedback.

Thumbnail
CA Lottery

KSBY is your official CA Lottery station for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties