Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  • Business
  •  

Bill Would Require Search Warrants For Digital Files

  •  Katie Orr 
Monday, April 6, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Grant Hutchinson, flickr
 

Grant Hutchinson, flickr

Law enforcement officers need a warrant if they want to search your house. A bill in the California Legislature would require they also get one to search your email.

The bill is sponsored by the ACLU of Northern California. It would require that law enforcement agencies obtain a warrant to search digital files, such as emails or documents saved on a "cloud" server.

ACLU attorney Chris Conley says the state’s privacy laws must be updated to reflect modern times.

"SB 178 is designed to make sure that these records have the same degree of protection as the files in a briefcase or the files on our laptop computer at home would have," he says.

Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed three similar bills in the last three years. But Conley says the circumstances are different with this bill. For example, he says, tech companies such as Apple and Google support it.

"Players in the digital economy, major companies and start-ups alike, are recognizing that it’s important for them to reinforce to their users that they are taking steps to protect information," he says. "Including making sure the government only accesses information when it’s appropriate."

But some law enforcement groups are not on board. The California State Sheriff’s Association says the bill contains unnecessary reporting requirements and would undermine investigations. The California District Attorneys Association says the measure violates the California Constitution.

The bill's next committee hearing is in the spring.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Johan Larsson / Flickr

    New California Law Protects Digital Privacy

    Tuesday, January 5, 2016
    Law enforcement agencies in California will need to get a warrant to access your digital records, including your physical location, under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

 legislationlaw enforcementprivacyACLU

Katie Orr

Former Health Care Reporter

Katie Orr reported for Capital Public Radio News through December 2015.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

California announces plan to convert 3 office buildings in downtown Sacramento into housing

January 31, 2023

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Republican plan would outlaw homeless camps near California schools or parks

January 26, 2023

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Thieves drain millions off CalFresh and CalWORKs recipients’ cards, families wait and taxpayers pay

January 31, 2023

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding. That's how his friends say they'll remember him

North Davis store becomes first Peet's Coffee in the country to form a union

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 pandemic has shifted people's finances

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding. That's how his friends say they'll remember him

North Davis store becomes first Peet's Coffee in the country to form a union

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.