Surveillance: Federal Limits on Local Data Access
A house committee must act next: committee consideration.
While privacy is a popular topic, this bill has few sponsors and limits police powers, which often makes it hard to pass.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Federal law enforcement employees who access local surveillance systems face new paperwork, mandatory training, audits, and personal liability for violations. Workers who follow the rules see little change, but those who knowingly or recklessly break them risk suspension, firing, or referral for discipline.
“An employee of a Federal law enforcement agency who knowingly or recklessly violates this Act shall be subject to appropriate administrative sanctions, including suspension, termination, and referral to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the applicable Federal law enforcement agency.”
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) introduced the PRIVACY Act, which would require federal law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing surveillance data collected by state and local systems, such as license plate readers and long-range microphones.
The PRIVACY Act would require the Attorney General to maintain a list of 'intrusive' surveillance technologies that federal agencies cannot access without a warrant. It also mandates the deletion of data within 30 days and restricts federal funding for such systems.
The legislation seeks to close a loophole allowing federal agents to access local surveillance databases, like those from Flock Safety, without a warrant. It includes a 30-day data retention limit and creates a list of restricted technologies.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
PRIVACY Act
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