ACLU's take on state house forum 9 july 13

today

Submitted by Communications on Tue, 07/09/2013 - 08:30

• privacy
 
• surveillance

Following national revelations about domestic surveillance, ACLU urges Massachusetts lawmakers to bolster privacy at the state level.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 9, 2013

CONTACT:
Raquel Ronzone, Communications Specialist, 617-482-3170 x 335, rronzone@aclum.org
Christopher Ott, Communications Director, 617-482-3170 x322, cott@aclum.org

BOSTON -- In the wake of recent revelations about domestic surveillance, the state Judiciary Committee will consider bills today meant to protect privacy and stop unwarranted surveillance. The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and other advocates will offer testimony and other support for bills including the Electronic Privacy Act, which sets out warrant requirements for phone, internet and location tracking, the Drone Privacy Act, and the Free Speech Act, which aims to end surveillance of political activity.

WHAT: Judiciary Committee Hearing on bills to protect privacy and stop surveillance

WHERE: Massachusetts State House, Rooms A1 & A2

WHEN: Tuesday, July 9, 1:00pm onward

The Electronic Privacy Act (Sen. Spilka & Rep. Walz: S.796; H.1684) would require law enforcement to obtain a warrant to access personal electronic information--such as details of telephone use, contacts, location, and email and other communication--from telecommunications companies, and would bring accepted long-standing Massachusetts law and practices governing search warrants into the digital age. 

The Drone Privacy Act (Sen. Hedlund & Rep. Garry: S.1664; H.1357) aims to regulate the use of aerial surveillance vehicles to ensure that this emerging technology is used responsibly in Massachusetts: without weapons, and not for warrantless surveillance of residents.

The Free Speech Act (Sen. Chandler & Rep. Lewis: S.642; H.1457) would prohibit law enforcement from collecting information about individuals' political and religious views, associations, or activities, unless it relates directly to a criminal investigation based on reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct. 

"Technology can work for us if we act responsibly, but we are letting our gadgets get ahead of our laws. We urgently need to update our privacy laws to reflect the ways we communicate today, and to ensure that our constitutional rights to speech and assembly are protected in the Commonwealth, today and for the next generation," said Gavi Wolfe, legislative counsel for the ACLU of Massachusetts.

For more information about the bills, go to:
http://aclum.org/privacy_agenda