The California chapter of the Council on American – Islamic Relations welcomes the recent introduction of Senate Bill 178 – California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA).
The bill, introduced by Senators Leno (D) and Anderson (R), would protect against warrantless government access to mobile devices, sensitive emails, text messages, digital documents, metadata, and location information.
Currently law enforcement can turn mobile phones into tracking devices and access sensitive e-mails, digital documents, and text messages without proper judicial oversight. CalECPA would provide:
• Warrant Protection for Digital Information
• Proper Transparency & Oversight
• Appropriate exceptions for Public Safety
“When it comes to privacy protections, California is in the digital dark ages,” said Senator Leno. “The personal files in your desk drawer at home cannot be seized without warrant, but your electronic information, no matter how sensitive, does not have the same protection. This bill strikes a perfect balance between safeguarding Californians against improper government intrusion of their electronic data and protecting the ability of law enforcement to use technology when it is needed to protect public safety.”
CalECPA is supported by more than a dozen technology businesses such as Apple, Facebook, and Google along with civil rights groups such as ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Color of Change.
“No government agency should be able to circumvent 4th Amendment protections,” said Sameena Usman, Government Relations Coordinator for CAIR – San Francisco Bay Area. “CalECPA will close such loopholes and ensure our privacy rights are protected from warrantless searches.”
CalECPA will be featured at the 4th Annual Muslim Day at the Capitol on Monday, April 27, where Muslims from across California will gather in Sacramento to meet with their legislators and advocate for policy changes.