Access to customer information from Internet infrastructure providers should follow due process of law.
In some instances, law enforcement agencies have a legitimate need to access personal online data, but government access to data must be preceded by due process procedures set out in the 4th Amendment in regards to search and seizure.
United States law is clear on the privacy of phone calls and other non-digital communications: government officials and agencies need a search warrant based on probable cause to gain access. But such protections don’t extend to email.
A warrant is needed for messages located on the computer of a sender or receiver but messages older than 180 days can be obtained from the servers of Internet infrastructure providers and other third parties with only a subpoena or court order. A court order can be based on a standard lower than probable cause, and many agencies can issue themselves a subpoena without an outside judge.
Want to work with us on Privacy issues? Join the i2Coalition and our Public Policy Working Group.
Recent Updates On Privacy
i2Coaltion Signs Letter Opposing H.R. 8454, Urging the Bill not be Given Further Consideration
The Internet Infrastructure Coalition (“i2Coaltion”) is among several leading technology industry organizations asking both House E&C Committee and House Judiciary Committee leadership to oppose H.R. 8454, a new bill would have unintended consequences that run contrary to its stated intension of preventing online child sexual exploitation. The i2Coalition is the voice for businesses that build the […]
i2Coalition Sept. 2020 Legislative Update
Your quick update on important Internet policy issues. With less than two months until the November 3 Presidential election, Congress is primarily focused on passing bills to avoid a shutdown by continuing to fund the government, and whether and how to provide additional COVID19 economic stimulus relief. Bipartisan negotiations on the COVID19 relief package have […]
WHOIS Privacy: How we got to this point, and how not to move backwards
In an era where online privacy is a key concern, a lot of people may wonder how WHOIS – the directory that holds the name, address, and other information for domain registrants – came to be in the first place, and where it’s going. This blog post outlines how WHOIS began in the very early […]
Impending Changes to India’s Internet Intermediary Rules Raise Concern for Indian Technology Innovation, Free Speech and Global Competitiveness
Impending Changes to India’s Internet Intermediary Rules Raise Concern for Indian Technology Innovation, Free Speech and Global Competitiveness India is at the cusp of amending its intermediary liability regime that will expand the due diligence measures required to avail safe harbor to include proactive monitoring, mandatory local incorporation, enabling the traceability of originators (which would […]
Why the EPDP is Essential for a Long-Term Solution for WHOIS
Experts are working on the most appropriate updates to domain name registration information through ICANN’s Expedited Policy Development Process (EPDP). Finding a balance between authority access and user privacy is difficult, and policymakers and the general public need patience as the EPDP works to get it right. Major European legislation, the General Data Protection Regulation, […]
i2Coalition and eco Provide 7 Lessons in Data Regulation for US Legislators Based on the GDPR Rollout
Good intentions aside, the GPDR introduced 150-plus pages of complex regulations that included little practical guidance on how to implement them. The Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) and eco: Association of the Internet Industry have witnessed shortcomings in how the GDPR has impacted many businesses in the industry in the quest to protect data privacy. Based […]
i2Coalition April 2019 Legislative Update
This is a brief legislative update for the public. Join the i2Coalition for in-depth updates from our Policy Director available only to members. OUTLOOK The House and Senate are back in session after a two week recess. Staff are returning to town this week, and Members return for official business next week. During the recess, the House […]
i2C March/April 2019 Legislative Update
We’re anticipating activity on privacy, intermediary liability, Facebook, and other topics impacting the online community in March and April.
Server Side: David Snead On i2Coalition/eco Transatlantic Dialogues Privacy Roundtables
i2Coalition co-founder and cPanel general counsel David Snead talks about the upcoming roundtables on privacy shield and transatlantic data flows, and other industry initiatives.
Transatlantic Dialogues Privacy Roundtable Reading List
Transatlantic Dialogues is an important three-part discussion series on the future of personal data protection on both sides of the Atlantic. The first roundtable will happen this week in Brussels (7 February, 2019), then we’ll be off to Berlin (12 February, 2019), and end the series in Washington D.C. (date TBD). Transatlantic Dialogues, organized by […]
Server Side: Monica Sanders On i2Coalition 2019 Policy Initiatives
Monica Sanders, i2Coalition Policy Director and Christian Dawson review an eventful 2018 and look forward to 2019.
Server Side: Frank Stiff & Michele Neylon On 2018 And Looking Forward To 2019
“The president of France essentially said that self-regulation didn’t work and they would be imposing regulation to “fix the bad stuff on the Internet.” That kind of statement from a major power is deeply worrying.”