On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduced the Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act, a bill preventing law enforcement and spy agencies from purchasing private data through data brokers. While surveillance by government entities normally requires a warrant with “probable cause,” the purchase of commercially-available data through data brokers has no such safeguards, allowing law enforcement to access data including geolocation information and web browser history. 

“There’s serious concern that law enforcement is working around the Fourth Amendment by purchasing our private data on the market,” said Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich. “Following recent reports about the widespread use of data brokers by government agencies, there’s bipartisan momentum to get something done on this issue and prevent unconstitutional government surveillance.”

Last week, a coalition including Chamber of Progress, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, LGBT Tech, and UnidosUS called on Congress to reject proposed amendments to the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA) that would preserve the ability of data brokers to sell third-party data to law enforcement agencies.

While all Americans are impacted by the exposure of their private data to law enforcement and intelligence agencies, marginalized communities are often the hardest hit. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, law enforcement agencies in states with an abortion ban are also using private data to track and prosecute women seeking reproductive care.

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Chamber of Progress (progresschamber.org) is a center-left tech industry policy coalition promoting technology’s progressive future.  We work to ensure that all Americans benefit from technological leaps, and that the tech industry operates responsibly and fairly.  

Our corporate partners do not have a vote on or veto over our positions. We do not speak for individual partner companies and remain true to our stated principles even when our partners disagree.