American IT companies including “Google” and “eBay” are asking to review The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). Companies say that the US government has too much access to private information on the internet.

“Google”, “eBay” and other companies created “Digital Due Process” coalition which is trying to persuade the government to renew the ECPA which was written in 1986. The question comes – why this act has not been renewed earlier. There weren’t that many people then who heard about internet or the World Wide Web.

The coalition is asking for the update of the act. Then the police and government would need a warrant or an official document before taking over private e-mails and text messages. The group is states that internet services providers (ISPs) or mobile services providers should have more rights before giving away private information to the police or other government institutions. In upcoming months “Google” lawyers are going to meet government, law enforcement and other officials to discuss the changes needed to modernize the outdated act.

You can find more information in the official “Digital Due Process website

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