On Thursday, 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. The coalition warned that law enforcement, as well as U.S. spy agencies, routinely purchase data to access private information, including geolocation, that would otherwise require a warrant.
From the letter:
“The government’s acquisition of private data flies in the face of Americans’ constitutional rights. As lawmakers from both parties noted at a House Judiciary hearing last year, the warrantless purchase of private data represents a break with due process, an infringement on Fourth Amendment liberties, and an abuse of government power. 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 using private data to track and prosecute women seeking reproductive care.
Last month, a new government report revealed the vast amount of Americans’ personal data purchased by U.S. spy agencies conducting surveillance. The report warned that the sale of such data can “cause harm to an individual’s reputation, emotional well-being, or physical safety.”
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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.