EFF asked the California Supreme Court not to weaken the Stored Communications Act, a 1986 federal law that restricts how providers can disclose the content of your communications to the government or...
Read Full Article »EFF to California's Supreme Court: Protect the Privacy of Internet Users' Communications
Discussion Points
- Balancing Privacy and Freedom of Expression: How do we balance the right to privacy with the need for communication providers to disclose content in certain circumstances, such as in response to a court order or to prevent harm?
- The Impact on Online Communities: What would be the consequences for online communities and individuals if communication providers were allowed to voluntarily disclose user communications without restriction?
- Setting a Precedent for Future Cases: Could a decision by the California Supreme Court in this case set a dangerous precedent for future cases involving similar issues, and how can we ensure that such decisions prioritize individual privacy rights?
Summary
EFF has urged the California Supreme Court to uphold the Stored Communications Act's protections against providers disclosing user communications to third parties. A lower court decision would allow Meta, Snap, and other providers to voluntarily disclose content without restriction, setting a potentially damaging precedent.
EFF, along with the Center for Democracy & Technology and Mozilla Corporation, has filed an amicus brief urging the court to uphold these privacy protections, which have stood for 40 years. The issue revolves around whether users have a reasonable expectation of privacy when communicating through providers like Meta and Snap.