House Passes Digital Privacy Protection Laws

Mar 12, 2020 by AFP

CONCORD, NH – Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire (AFP-NH) today thanked lawmakers for passing House Bill 1236, legislation that updates Granite Staters’ digital privacy protections for the 21^st century.

The grassroots group is also running a digital campaign, urging people to contact their state senator to support HB 1236.

Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire (AFP-NH) State Director Greg Moore issued the following statement:

“21^st Century problems deserve contemporary solutions. Granite Staters expect that their emails, photos and texts are private, and that the government won’t go through them without a warrant. Our privacy protections shouldn’t vanish because of technological innovation. Without this bill, state and federal courts would take years to affirm protections for people’s data from government surveillance. We thank the House for standing up for our state and federal constitutional rights and updating our laws for the digital age.”

Background:

Digital Privacy Protection Needed for 21st Century, 2/12/20

Recently, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Carpenter v. U.S., recognizing that digital data being passed through and held by a third party does not diminish an individual’s expectation of privacy. However, the ruling was limited – pertaining only to cell phone location information. House Bill 1236 is the logical and necessary next step to protecting a reasonable expectation of privacy for every Granite Stater.

In 2018, Granite Staters approved a constitutional amendment with 81% percent approval that adds a right to privacy to the state constitution.