Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Applaud House Committee for Advancing Privacy Protections Amendment
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 13, House Appropriations Committee added privacy protections against data brokers to a major funding bill. The amendment offered by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) would close the so-called “data broker loophole” and prevent the government and law enforcement from bypassing the courts and buying Americans’ online data, including browser histories and location information.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) issues the following statement in response:
“The House Appropriations Committee’s adoption of this amendment is an important step toward protecting the privacy and civil rights of all communities. Asian Americans and immigrant communities have too often become a target of unnecessary warrantless surveillance. We strongly support the amendment which would help curb the disproportionate harm that surveillance practices often inflict on vulnerable communities.
“Federal agencies should not be allowed to evade judicial oversight by purchasing sensitive personal data from brokers instead of obtaining a warrant, court order, or subpoena. Congress must close this loophole to ensure that constitutional protections are not for sale. We're grateful for the leadership of Rep. Espaillat in demanding meaningful safeguards that protect both privacy and national security."
The amendment was adopted 32-25, and we thank the following appropriators who voted in favor:
Aguilar (D-CA), Bishop (D-GA), Case (D-HI), Cloud (R-TX), Clyburn (D-SC), Clyde (R-GA), Cuellar (D-TX), Dean (D-PA), Delauro (D-CT), Escobar (D-TX), Espaillat (D-NY), Frankel (D-FL), Harder (D-CA), Harris (R-MD), Hoyer (D-MD), Ivey (D-MD), Kaptur (D-OH), Lee (D-NV), Levin (D-CA), McCollum (D-MN), Meng (D-NY), Moore (R-WV), Morelle (D-NY), Mrvan (D-IN), Perez (D-WA), Pingree (D-ME), Pocan (D-WI), Quigley (D-IL), Torres (D-CA), Underwood (D-IL), Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Watson Coleman (D-NJ).
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