Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Assembly passes bill requiring search warrants for electronic devices amid law-enforcement concerns
Summary
The Assembly approved legislation to add Article 695 to the Criminal Procedure Law, generally requiring warrants for physical and electronic access to personal devices. Sponsors said the measure protects privacy; law-enforcement critics warned it could hamper investigations and raised questions about emergency exceptions and handling of abandoned phones.
Assemblymember Dinowitz sponsored and the Assembly passed legislation on Tuesday aimed at tightening rules for police searches of electronic devices, a measure supporters said updates privacy protections and opponents said could create operational hurdles for investigators.
"This bill would . . . clarify that law enforcement agents and agencies are required to obtain a search warrant for both physical and electronic access to electronic devices and information contained within," Assemblymember Dinowitz said while explaining A.2565‑A on the floor. The bill adds a new Article 695 to New York’s Criminal Procedure Law and includes provisions on voluntary disclosures, sealed access, emergency exceptions and remedies for improperly obtained evidence.
Why it matters: Sponsors framed the proposal as responding to…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
