Security News > 2020 > May > Internet Organizations Ask US House to Limit Access to Search, Browsing History
In a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, several Internet organizations are urging for an amendment to the surveillance bill known as the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act to prohibit warrantless collection of search and browsing history.
Signed by Mozilla Corporation, Engine, Reddit, Reform Government Surveillance, Twitter, i2Coalition, and Patreon, the letter asserts that the Internet browsing and search history provide a detailed picture of a person's life, and that legislation should ensure that this information is well protected.
"We urge you to explicitly prohibit the warrantless collection of internet search and browsing history when you consider the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act," the letter reads.
Such privacy concerns are addressed in an amendment introduced by Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Steve Daines to H.R. 6172, which aims to expressly prohibit "The use of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act for the warrantless collection of search and browsing history." The Senate voted on the amendment earlier this month, but came one vote short of approving it.
"Congress should take this opportunity to resolve any potential ambiguity and provide strong legal protections for all search and browsing history. [] We respectfully urge you to include the text of the Wyden/Daines amendment as part of the USAFREEDOM Reauthorization Act," the letter concludes.