Bill Text: NJ SR46 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Affirms right to privacy despite federal authorization of expansion government surveillance and deregulation of electronic information sharing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-05 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [SR46 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR46-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Affirms right to privacy despite federal authorization of expansive government surveillance and deregulation of electronic information sharing.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution affirming the right to privacy despite federal authorization of expansive government surveillance and deregulation of electronic information sharing.
Whereas, The right to privacy is a vital part of the American legal and cultural tradition encompassing the right to be free from government intrusion through unwarranted search and seizure, the right to make certain important life choices, and the right to be free from the invasion or dissemination of personal information; and
Whereas, Modern technology has given government and corporations the tools to extend the limits of legal surveillance and information gathering; and
Whereas, The "USA PATRIOT Act," though amended and revised since first enacted, still authorizes extensive government surveillance and data collection for the protection of national security; and
Whereas, Other federal statutes similarly authorize government data collection for the broad purpose of ensuring national security; and
Whereas, On January 19, 2018, President Trump signed into law a six year extension of Section 702 of the "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act," which was approved by Congress the previous day; and
Whereas, Section 702 authorizes the warrantless collection of electronic communications of targeted overseas foreigners from American companies even when the foreigner's communications are with an American; and
Whereas, In April, 2017, President Trump signed a congressional resolution repealing the Federal Communications Commission's newly created and yet to be implemented internet privacy protections regarding broadband companies' ability to collect and share data on broadband users' online activity; and
Whereas, As a result, consumers have no privacy protections from broadband companies beyond the companies' own privacy policies, and broadband companies are free to track and share user data without explicit permission unless individual users tell them not to; and
Whereas, These federal actions expand authorized government intrusion and corporate profits at the expense of American citizens; and
Whereas, Nevertheless, the right to privacy is and must remain a fundamental tenet of law; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House affirms the
importance of the right to privacy in the American legal and cultural tradition
including as it relates to the privacy of electronic personal information.
2. Copies of this resolution as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution affirming the right to privacy, especially as it relates to internet activity, is needed in light of recent federal actions that implicitly express disregard for American consumers and their privacy. The continued authorization of the PATRIOT and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Acts and the repealing of the FCC's internet privacy protections indicate federal government indifference when it comes to privacy.
The right to privacy is an essential part of American legal and cultural consciousness. As technology advances the opportunities and methods to violate a person's privacy grows. Because of this threat to privacy, and because of the federal government's apparent disinterest in protecting the right to privacy, this House affirms the importance of privacy as a fundamental tenet of the American tradition.
