Google, and other tech industry players, testified in Washington last week that the 30-year-old Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), written in 1986, needs an overhaul. The law was designed to protect consumers from companies like Google collecting their personal information without consent. The current ECPA allows government agencies to force internet companies to hand over content of email communications without needing a warrant. The law was written before the digital era and needs to be updated, as some believe that the ECPA is hurting US tech companies' trade relations with other countries.
Google, and other tech industry players, testified in Washington last week that the 30-year-old Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), written in 1986, needs an overhaul. A reform on the legislation is now making its way through Congress. The current ECPA allows government agencies to force internet companies to hand over content of email communications without needing a warrant. The law was written before the digital era and needs to be updated, as some believe that the ECPA is hurting US tech companies' trade relations with other countries.