A warrantless cell-phone spying bill recently introduced in the Michigan House has stalled – for now. MLive is reporting that House Bill 4006 has been pulled from the legislative agenda a second time. The bill would require cell phone companies to disclose call location information when requested by a law enforcement officer. The bill would grant legal immunity to cell phone companies for making the disclosures.
In a flash of rationality, Gideon D’Assandro, a spokesperson for the Republican majority, said new questions about jurisdiction and proposed immunity for wireless providers have popped up. D’Assandro told MLive, “… There are still questions.”
The legislation, sponsored by Republican Rep. Kurt Heise of Plymouth Township, has prompted push back from some conservative lawmakers and other privacy proponents in the state Legislature after advancing out of committee. “It’s been a heated discussion, a passionate discussion, just about the civil liberty issues that are all wrapped up in this,” said Rep. Cindy Gamrat, R-Plainwell. “My concern is … we’re setting precedent authorizing government to access our technology devices, such as phones or computers or GPS in cars. Where do you end up drawing the line?”
State Rep. Todd Courser, R-Lapeer, said he understands the value that location information could provide in some emergencies. However, made clear this week that he could not vote for the bill in its current form. He told MLive, “I think we also need to make sure we’re giving people the constitutional protections that are supposed to be afforded by our founding fathers.”
In typical goobermental double-speak, Republican Heise told MLive that allowing warrantless access to private citizens’ phones could actually strengthen civil liberty protections. Heise told MLive said he does not necessarily think that a 48-hour notification for cell phone owners is warranted.
Of course, law enforcement groups and Verizon Communications indicated support for the proposal. Of course they do, they get even more access to citizens’ private information. MLive states that as now written, the snooping does not require a warrant. All a police officer needs to access a private citizen’s phone records, is to have a note signed by a supervisor.
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Well, maybe they don’t need to bother with any legislation to spy on us. Recent reports are that the goobermint has new ways to collect our personal data without a warrant. Stingray? FBI Spy planes? So much for the Constitution.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.
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