Chaffetz seeks to criminalize warrantless data collection

Published November 2, 2015 11:00am ET



Legislation being introduced on Monday would make it illegal for agencies to use fake cell towers that vacuum up cell phone data over a wide area without a warrant.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is introducing the Cell-Site Simulator Act. Under draft text of the bill provided to the Washington Examiner, collecting metadata with a device known as a stingray would require a warrant. Violations would be punishable by a fine and up to 10 years in prison. The bill would exempt emergencies that include an “immediate danger of death,” national security or that fall under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

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