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IPFS News Link • Privacy Rights

Oregon Law Curbing Warrantless Collection of Cellphone Data Now in Effect

• Michael Maharrey, offnow.org

SALEM, Ore. (Jan. 4, 2016) – Privacy got a boost in Oregon on New Year's Day.

On Jan.1, a new law prohibiting police from obtaining information from electronic devices without a warrant in most cases went into effect. The new law will not only protect privacy in Oregon, but will also address a practical effect of federal spying.

Sen. Chip Shields (D-Portland), Rep. Jennifer Williamson (D-Portland), Sen. Tim Knopp (R – Bend) and Rep. John Huffman (R-The Dalles) introduced Senate Bill 641 (SB641) last February. The bill prohibits state and local law enforcement officers from using "forensic imaging" to obtain information contained in a portable electronic device except with a warrant, or by consent. "Forensic imaging" means "using an electronic device to download or transfer raw data from a portable electronic device onto another medium of digital storage," but does not include photographing or transcribing information "observable from the portable electronic device by normal unaided human senses."


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