Legis Daily

Warrant for Metadata Act

USA119th CongressHR-2787| House 
| Updated: 4/9/2025
Ted Lieu

Ted Lieu

Democratic Representative

California

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Warrant for Metadata Act" proposes significant amendments to Title 18, United States Code, specifically Section 2703, to enhance privacy protections for electronic communications. Its primary purpose is to mandate that governmental entities obtain a judicial warrant before compelling the disclosure of non-content records, including metadata , from providers of electronic communication or remote computing services. This legislation removes existing distinctions based on the age of stored communications, ensuring that all such data is subject to the same stringent warrant requirement. The bill specifically strikes provisions that previously allowed access to subscriber information and metadata with a lesser legal standard, such as a court order based on "specific and articulable facts," or without a warrant for data stored over 180 days. While not retroactively affecting past disclosures, any subsequent or expanded requests for such data made after the bill's enactment would necessitate a new warrant under the amended law.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-7553
Warrant for Metadata Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5309
Warrant for Metadata Act
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced in House
Apr 9, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-7553
    Warrant for Metadata Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5309
    Warrant for Metadata Act


  • April 9, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • April 9, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Warrant for Metadata Act

USA119th CongressHR-2787| House 
| Updated: 4/9/2025
The "Warrant for Metadata Act" proposes significant amendments to Title 18, United States Code, specifically Section 2703, to enhance privacy protections for electronic communications. Its primary purpose is to mandate that governmental entities obtain a judicial warrant before compelling the disclosure of non-content records, including metadata , from providers of electronic communication or remote computing services. This legislation removes existing distinctions based on the age of stored communications, ensuring that all such data is subject to the same stringent warrant requirement. The bill specifically strikes provisions that previously allowed access to subscriber information and metadata with a lesser legal standard, such as a court order based on "specific and articulable facts," or without a warrant for data stored over 180 days. While not retroactively affecting past disclosures, any subsequent or expanded requests for such data made after the bill's enactment would necessitate a new warrant under the amended law.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-7553
Warrant for Metadata Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5309
Warrant for Metadata Act
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced in House
Apr 9, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-7553
    Warrant for Metadata Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5309
    Warrant for Metadata Act


  • April 9, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • April 9, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Ted Lieu

Ted Lieu

Democratic Representative

California

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted