Hill Votes to Increase Email Privacy for the American People

Press Release

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 699, the Email Privacy Act, sponsored by Congressman Kevin Yoder (KS-03). The bill would improve privacy protections under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) by no longer allowing law enforcement officials to access without a warrant private citizens' emails that are more than six months old and that are being held third-party service providers. After the bill passed the House, original cosponsor Congressman French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement:

"There needs to be a balance between the rights of private citizens and the capabilities of law enforcement officials trying to protect our communities. The existing and outdated 1986 law doesn't meet the standard of privacy the American people expect from their government. In fact, it is, by today's standards and technology, a shocking loophole in privacy. Protecting the rights and the safety of the people is a paramount responsibility of Congress, and I am proud we were able to come together on a bipartisan basis to amend current law so that it respects the rights of private citizens without hindering law enforcement's ability to carry out its critical responsibilities."

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