Government Surveillance Transparency: Mandatory Notice and Limited Secrecy.
This law significantly increases transparency regarding government electronic and communication surveillance. It mandates that citizens whose data was targeted must eventually be notified, and it strictly limits the ability of courts to indefinitely seal surveillance orders. This ensures greater public awareness and judicial oversight of law enforcement's use of surveillance powers, strengthening privacy rights.
Key points
The government must eventually notify individuals that their communications or data (e.g., wiretaps, phone records) were subject to a surveillance order, unless notice is delayed under strict conditions.
Surveillance orders and related documents cannot be sealed indefinitely; secrecy is limited to 180 days, with extensions requiring higher justification standards.
Courts must publish public, machine-readable records detailing the number and type of surveillance orders issued, enhancing public oversight.
New rules require service providers to report back to the court if they disclosed data to the government that exceeded the scope of the original order.
Expired
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