What's happening
This bill establishes the New York Electronic Communications Privacy Act, setting rules for law enforcement access to electronic device and communication data, including warrant and reporting requirements.
Why it matters
Strengthens privacy protections. by requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant—describing with particularity what they seek—before accessing most electronic device or communication data, except in emergencies or with explicit user consent. This raises the bar for government access to personal digital information, making it harder for authorities to conduct broad or indiscriminate searches.
Sets clear standards and definitions. for what counts as electronic communication and device data, who qualifies as an “authorized possessor,” and what constitutes an emergency. This clarity helps individuals, service providers, and law enforcement understand their rights and responsibilities, reducing legal ambiguity.
Institutes transparency and accountability. through mandatory notice provisions—targets of searches must be informed when their data is accessed (with limited exceptions and possible court-ordered delays). Law enforcement must also submit public annual reports on how often and under what circumstances data is sought, promoting oversight and public awareness of surveillance practices.
Creates remedies for unlawful access. by allowing suppression of improperly obtained electronic information in court and providing avenues for individuals, service providers, or the Attorney General to challenge or seek destruction of data gathered in violation of the law. This empowers individuals and companies to push back against overreach and ensures there are real consequences for misuse.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Digital Privacy Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Digital Privacy Rights
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
7 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6044
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to establishing the New York electronic communications privacy act ("NYECPA")
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new article 695 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 695
SEARCH AND SEIZURE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATIONS Section 695.05 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic
communications; definitions.
695.10 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic
communications; in general.
695.15 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic
communications; in an emergency.
695.20 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic
communications; when evidence can be suppressed.
695.25 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic
communications; annual report. § 695.05 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic commu-
nications; definitions.
As used in this article, the following definitions shall apply:
1. "Adverse result" means any of the following:
(a) danger to the life or physical safety of an individual;
(b) flight from prosecution;
(c) destruction of or tampering with evidence;
(d) intimidation of potential witnesses; or
(e) serious jeopardy to an investigation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03787-04-7
S. 6044 2
2. "Authorized possessor" means the person in possession of an electronic device when that person is the owner of the device or has been authorized to possess the device by the owner of the device.
3. "Electronic communication" means the transmission of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectric, or photo-optical system.
4. "Electronic communication information" means information related to an electronic communication or the use of an electronic communication service including, but not limited to the contents, sender, recipients, or format of an electronic communication; the precise or approximate location of the sender or recipients of an electronic communication at any time during such communication; the time or date such communication was created, sent, or received and information pertaining to an individual or device involved in the communication including but not limited to an internet protocol address. Electronic communication information does not include subscriber information as defined in this article and does not include information in the public domain.
5. "Electronic communication service" means a service that provides subscribers to or users of such service the ability to send or receive an electronic communication as defined in this article, including a service that acts as an intermediary in the transmission of electronic communications, or that stores electronic communication information.
6. "Electronic device" means a device that stores, generates, or transmits information in electronic form.
7. "Electronic device information" means information stored in or generated through the operation of an electronic device, including information related to the location of such device at any time.
8. "Electronic information" means electronic communication information or electronic device information.
9. "Law enforcement agency" means any agency which is empowered by law to conduct an investigation or to make an arrest for an offense under the penal law, and an agency which is authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of an offense under the penal law.
10. "Law enforcement officer" means any public servant who is empowered by law to conduct an investigation of or to make an arrest for an offense under the penal law, and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of an offense under the penal law.
11. "Location information" means information regarding the general or specific location of an electronic device.
12. "Service provider" means a person or entity that provides an electronic communication service.
13. "Specific consent" means consent provided directly to a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer seeking information regarding an electronic communication, including but not limited to circumstances in which a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer is the addressee or intended recipient or a member of the intended audience for such communication.
14. "Subscriber information" means the name, street address, telephone number, email address, or similar contact information provided by a subscriber to the service provider in order to establish or maintain a communication channel or an account for electronic communication services, as well as a subscriber identifier or account number, the period of time in which the subscriber receives service; and the types of services used by a user of or subscriber to a service provider.
S. 6044 3
§ 695.10 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic commu-
nications; in general.
1. Except as provided in this section, a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer shall not:
(a) compel, induce or offer incentives for the production of or access to electronic communication information from a service provider;
(b) compel the production of or access to electronic device information from any person or entity other than the authorized possessor of the device; or
(c) access electronic device information by means of physical interaction or electronic communication with the electronic device.
2. A law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer may compel the production of or access to electronic communication information from a service provider, or compel the production of or access to electronic device information from any person or entity other than the authorized possessor of the device only under the following circumstances:
(a) pursuant to a warrant issued in accordance with article six hundred ninety of this title and subject to subdivision four of this section, unless the law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer is required under section 250.00 of the penal law and article seven hundred of this title to obtain a warrant issued pursuant to article seven hundred of this title; or
(b) pursuant to a warrant issued in accordance with article seven hundred of this title.
3. A law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer may access, without consent, as provided in this section, electronic device information by means of physical interaction or electronic communication with the device only as follows:
(a) pursuant to a warrant in accordance with article six hundred ninety of this title and subject to subdivision four of this section, unless the law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer is required under section 250.00 of the penal law and article seven hundred of this title to obtain a warrant issued pursuant to article seven hundred of this title;
(b) pursuant to a warrant issued in accordance with article seven hundred of this title;
(c) with the specific consent of the authorized possessor of the device;
(d) with the specific consent of the owner of the device, only when the device has been reported as lost or stolen; or
(e) if the law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer, in good faith, believes the device to be lost, stolen, or abandoned, provided that the law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer shall access electronic device information only for the purpose of attempting to identify, verify, or contact the owner or authorized possessor of the device.
4. Any warrant for electronic information shall:
(a) describe with particularity the information to be seized by specifying the time periods for which such information is sought and, as appropriate and reasonable, the target individuals or accounts, the applications or services covered, and the types of information sought; and
(b) comply with all applicable provisions of state and federal law, including such provisions that prohibit or limit the use of search warrants, or that impose additional requirements, beyond the scope of this article, regarding search warrants.
S. 6044 4
(c) If an affidavit, declaration, deposition, allegation of fact or other material is submitted in support of the application for a warrant, the judge must file it with the court within twenty-four hours of the issuance of a warrant.
5. A service provider may voluntarily disclose electronic communication information or subscriber information when that disclosure is not otherwise prohibited by this article or by other provisions of state law or by federal law.
6. A law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer that receives electronic communication information provided voluntarily shall seal that information within ninety days and access to the information shall be prohibited except in one or more of the following circumstances:
(a) a law enforcement officer or agency obtains specific consent from the sender or recipient of the electronic communications about which information has been disclosed; or
(b) a law enforcement officer or agency obtains a court order authorizing access to the electronic communication information. A court shall issue an access order upon the same finding required for issuing a warrant pursuant to article six hundred ninety of the criminal procedure law and subject to subdivision four of this section.
(c) information retained by a law enforcement officer or agent that is subject to this provision shall not be shared with:
(i) persons or entities that do not agree to limit the use of the provided information to those purposes identified in the court authorization; and
(ii) persons or entities that:
(A) are not legally obligated to destroy the provided information upon the expiration or rescindment of the court's retention order; or
(B) do not voluntarily agree to destroy the provided information upon the expiration or rescindment of the court's retention order.
7. A law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer that obtains electronic information pursuant to an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to a person, which requires access to the electronic information without delay, shall within three days after obtaining the electronic information file with the appropriate court an application for a warrant or order that authorizes access to such electronic information, or a motion seeking approval of the emergency disclosures that sets forth the facts giving rise to the emergency, and if applicable, a request supported by a sworn affidavit for an order delaying notification to the court as required under paragraph (a) of subdivision two of section 695.15 of this article. The court shall promptly rule on such application or motion, and shall order the immediate destruction of all information obtained, and immediate notification to the targets of a warrant or emergency request, pursuant to subdivision one of section 695.15 of this article, if such notice has not already been given, upon a finding that the facts did not give rise to an emergency, or upon a ruling that rejects the warrant or order application on any other ground.
8. This section does not limit the authority of a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer to use an administrative, grand jury, trial, or civil discovery subpoena to do any of the following:
(a) require an originator, addressee, or intended recipient of an electronic communication to disclose any electronic communication information associated with that communication;
(b) require an entity that provides electronic communications services to its officers, directors, employees, or agents for the purpose of
S. 6044 5
carrying out their duties, to disclose electronic communication information associated with an electronic communication to or from an officer, director, employee, or agent of the entity; or
(c) require a service provider to provide subscriber information.
9. This section does not prohibit the intended recipient of an electronic communication from voluntarily disclosing electronic communication information concerning that communication to a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer.
10. Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand any authority under state law to compel the production of or access to electronic information. § 695.15 Search and seizure of electronic devices and electronic commu-
nications; in an emergency.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to establishing the New York electronic communications privacy act ("NYECPA")
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would require a search warrant for access to all aspects of electronic communications except where federal law allows voluntary disclosure.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends the criminal procedure law by adding the new article 695. This bill would require government agents and agencies to obtain a search warrant for physical or electronic access to electronic device information. The warrant must be described with particularity and the Government agency must provide contemporaneous notice to the target of the warrant, with exceptions for emergency situations. The bill would direct all government agencies that obtain electronic communication information pursuant to this bill to annually report information to the Attorney General. The bill provides enforcement mechanisms if government agencies or agents fail to comply with the provisions of the bill.
Section two provides the effective date.
Justification
New York residents increasingly rely on mobile devices, computers, tablets, and the internet to connect, communicate, work, research information and manage personal matters, including sensitive or confidential matters. At present, federal and state laws protecting the content of these private electronic communications are antiquated and fail to address the surveillance capabilities of modern technology. In this digital age, it is important to protect the privacy and due process rights of New York residents by ensuring New York privacy laws are updated to reflect the capabilities and consequences of new technology.
In two recent decisions, United States v. Jones and Riley v. California, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Fourth Amendment privacy rights against warrantless government surveillance. Justice Alito in Jones also prompted lawmakers to take action, noting that in circumstances involving dramatic technological change "a legislative body is well suited to gauge changing public attitudes, to draw detailed lines, and to balance privacy and public safety in a comprehensive way." The New York Electronic Communications Privacy Act heeds the call in Jones for the legislature to act and to safeguard New Yorkers, spur innovation, and support public safety by updating privacy law to match the modem digital world.
This bill will make sure that the law enforcement officers go to a judge and get a warrant before they can access sensitive information, including data from personal electronic devices, emails, digital documents, text messages, and location information under normal circumstances. The bill also includes thoughtful exceptions to ensure that they can continue to effectively and efficiently protect public safety. The bill's notice, reporting, and enforcement provisions make sure that there is a proper transparency and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the law is followed and there is parity in criminal proceedings.
Prior legislative history
2017: A.1895 (Dinowitz) 2016: A.9235 - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.