Lawmakers push for updated email privacy protections | Local

Lawmakers push for updated email privacy protections | Local

Lawmakers push for updated email privacy protections | Local

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/bill-would-end-180-day-warrant-exemption-for-stored-emails/article_8bc6b031-47f9-5033-9693-f065a96feda6.html

Publish Date: 2026-06-05 13:44:00

Source Domain: www.daytondailynews.com



The Ohio Statehouse at 1 Capitol Sq. in Columbus.


A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to strengthen digital privacy protections by requiring government agencies to obtain a warrant before accessing Americans’ stored electronic communications, regardless of how long the data has been stored.

U.S. Reps. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., joined U.S. Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on Monday in introducing the Email Privacy Act, legislation aimed at updating federal privacy laws to reflect modern technology and communication practices.

The bill would eliminate a provision in current law that allows government agencies to access stored electronic communications older than 180 days without obtaining a warrant. Supporters of the measure argue that the rule, established decades ago, no longer reflects how Americans use email and cloud-based services.

The legislation would establish a uniform warrant requirement for electronic communications, regardless of how long they have been stored. It…

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