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House Judiciary to Consider Bill Targeting Police Data Purchases

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday is scheduled to mark up legislation that would bar law enforcement agencies from buying consumers’ communications information from data brokers. Introduced by Reps. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio; Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y.; Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.; Zoe Lofgren,…

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D-Calif; Ken Buck, R-Colo.; Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; Thomas Massie, R-Ky.; and Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., H.R. 4639 would prevent law enforcement and intelligence agencies from “obtaining subscriber or customer records in exchange for anything of value.” Police buying consumer data has been a point of contention in surveillance reform discussions (see 2307140042). Demand Progress called for Congress to close the data broker loophole, saying brokers “sell troves of sensitive information about us to these agencies, including who goes to which churches, mosques, reproductive health clinics, rehab facilities, protests, and more.” Police shouldn't be able to "pay a phone company to install a wiretap instead of getting a warrant from a judge to place the wiretap," said Jake Laperruque, Center for Democracy & Technology deputy director-Project on Security & Surveillance. The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. in 2141 Rayburn.