PRIVACY Act

This bill would require federal law enforcement agencies to get a warrant from a federal judge before obtaining data collected by state or local police using devices on a list kept by the Attorney General, such as license plate readers, location cameras, and long-range microphones. Federal agencies could keep such data for 30 days unless a court extends it or it is needed for a filed prosecution, and data obtained in violation of these rules could not be used as evidence by the prosecution in federal court. The bill would bar federal funds from being used to buy or install listed devices, with exceptions for toll collection, certain school safety and community policing grants, and warrant-based portable systems. It also allows people to sue the United States over violations, requires reports to Congress every 180 days, and includes exceptions for emergencies and written consent.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Keith Self Republican sponsor
• 7 cosponsors