BERKELEY, Calif. (April 18, 2018) – The city of Berkeley, Calif., has passed a local ordinance that sets the stage to limit the acquisition and use of spy gear by law enforcement and other city agencies. The Surveillance Technology Use and Community Safety Ordinance ensures there will be public notice and debate before the city acquires…
BOSTON, Mass. (April 17, 2018) – Last week, a Massachusetts committee passed a bill that would limit access to, and retention and sharing of, data collected by automatic license plate readers. Passage into law would also place significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track the location of millions…
CONCORD, N.H. (April 11, 2018) – Yesterday, a New Hampshire Senate committee passed a bill that would prohibit the release of any information from the state’s medical marijuana registry to the federal government without a warrant. Passage of the legislation would take another small step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect. A coalition of…
DAVIS, Calif. (April 6, 2018) – Last month, the city of Davis, Calif., passed a local ordinance that sets the stage to limit the acquisition and use of spy gear by law enforcement and other city agencies. The law will also help limit the impact of the federal surveillance state. The Surveillance Technology Ordinance requires public…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 4, 2018) – On Tuesday, a California Senate committee passed a bill that would increase oversight and transparency of law enforcement surveillance technology. Passage of the bill would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance…
BOSTON, Mass. (March 26, 2018) – Last week, a Massachusetts House committee passed a bill that would put strict limitations on the use of automated license plate reader systems (ALPRs) by the state. Passage into law would also place significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track the location of millions…
LANSING, Mich. (March 20, 2018) – Yesterday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill that bans “material support or resources” for warrantless federal surveillance programs. This is an essential step every state needs to take at a time when the federal government seems unlikely to ever end unconstitutional spying on its own. Rep. Martin Howrylak (R-Troy)…
CONCORD, N.H. (March 16, 2018) – Yesterday, the New Hampshire House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would prohibit the release of any information from the state’s medical marijuana registry to the federal government without a warrant. Passage of the legislation would take another small step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect. A coalition of…
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 15, 2018) – Yesterday, the Maryland House passed a bill that would ban the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones without a court order and prohibit police from sweeping up electronic communications. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in Maryland, it would also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance…
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 12, 2018) – On Friday, the Kentucky House gave final approval to a bill that would require police to get a warrant before engaging in drone surveillance in most situations. If signed into law, this legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the…