Surveillance Accountability Act

This bill would add a section to federal criminal law requiring a warrant based on probable cause for government searches, with listed exceptions such as plain-view observation, checking photo ID, publicly available information, consent, and emergencies. It would bar the government from getting data held by third parties, such as banks, phone companies, internet providers, cloud storage companies, and data brokers, without a warrant, even if the company agrees to share it. The exceptions would not allow warrantless collection of facial recognition or other biometric data, or license plate reader data, from people in public places without their consent. The bill would also let people sue federal employees and others acting under federal authority who violate their Fourth Amendment rights, and courts could award attorney's fees to the winning party other than the United States.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Thomas Massie Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors