Statement In Support Of The Stopping Mass Hacking Act

Washington, DC – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issued the following statement in support of the Stopping Mass Hacking Act (S. 2952), which rejects changes to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. If allowed, the misguided rules would enable magistrate judges to extend the scope of their warrants to computers outside of their jurisdiction:

“The Internet industry applauds Senators Ron Wyden, Rand Paul, Tammy Baldwin, Steve Daines, and Jon Tester for their efforts to roll back proposed rules that expand the government’s authority to hack into and remotely surveil computers in any jurisdiction.  Rule 41 currently permits federal judges to grant search warrants only for evidence within their district. The proposed changes could give magistrates the authority to grant remote electronic searches of computers for evidence of any sort of crime in any district. The implications of this proposed change are far reaching, present an opportunity for Congressional oversight, and should only be addressed as part of a broader national discussion about privacy and security.”

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