The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved a bill aimed at improving privacy protections for e-mails and other electronically stored data, The New York Times reports. The proposed bill would require law enforcement authorities to obtain a warrant prior to accessing electronic messages. The bill is not expected to make it through Congress this year, but the Center for Democracy & Technology called it a “historic” step. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said, “Like many Americans, I am concerned about the growing and unwelcome intrusions into our private lives in cyberspace,” adding, “I also understand that we must update our digital privacy laws to keep pace with the rapid advances in technology.” (Registration may be required to access this story.)
Full Story