PRIVACY’S BACK

Senate Proposes Warrants for Email Search

Leahy wants bill passed before recess.

You soon might not have to worry about the government snooping into your emails without a warrant—so go back to sending as many cat videos as you want. Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy is trying to fast-track a bill that will require warrants for all email searches, hoping it will get passed before the August recess, The Hill reported on Sunday. Leahy has unanimous support among Democrats as well as the backing of Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s ranking member—and Leahy’s office claims they have more than the 60 votes required to prevent a filibuster. Leahy’s bill won’t affect any National Security Agency programs (sorry, Edward Snowden, no action on the stuff you leaked yet), but it will stop local and federal police from accessing private email messages without a warrant.