Evergreen Community Safety Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Ms. Pettersen, requires large tech companies to hand over user data to law enforcement within 72 hours of receiving a court order or warrant. This is designed to speed up criminal investigations that rely on digital evidence like emails, private messages, or location history.
• The rules apply to "covered providers," which are companies like social media platforms, email services, or cloud storage providers that have at least 1 million users. This means almost every major tech company Americans use daily would be subject to these strict new deadlines.
• If a data request is massive or very complicated, a judge can grant the company an extra 7 days to comply. If the company believes the request is illegal and wants to challenge it, they must file their legal objection within 48 hours of receiving the warrant.
• A major change in this bill allows regular people to sue tech companies for money if the company's delay in providing data causes them harm. This adds a new layer of accountability, as companies could face expensive lawsuits for missing their 72-hour deadline.
• This policy addresses a common problem where law enforcement waits weeks or months for tech companies to process warrants. By setting a strict federal timeline, the bill aims to ensure that digital evidence is available while investigations are still fresh.