Senate Dems want changes to electronic privacy laws

“We urge Congress to proceed with caution,” Baker said. “Congress must protect privacy and foster innovation, but it also should refrain from making changes that would unduly impair the government’s ability to obtain critical information necessary to build criminal, national security and cyber-investigations.”

Grassley also emphasized ensuring law enforcement has the access it needs to pursue criminals.

“Obtaining a search warrant takes more time to obtain than a subpoena for records,” Grassley said. “How will this impact cases where time is of the essence?”

Commerce Department general counsel Cameron Kerry told lawmakers the department is open to discussing changes to ECPA, acknowledging that recent court cases have increased the uncertainty regarding the government’s ability to access remotely stored data.