Leading the Efforts to Protect Montana's Browsing Data, Privacy Rights

To watch my full speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, click HERE.

What's New:

Last week I introduced a bipartisan amendment that would prohibit the government from spying on Americans’ browser data and internet search history.

For far too long the PATRIOT Act has infringed on the Fourth Amendment rights of Americans. Unfortunately, my amendment failed by one vote because four senators did not show up to vote.

However, I was able to secure a number of other strong privacy protections, such as prohibiting collection of GPS data, ending the Call Detail Record program that spied on Americans phone records and strong provisions to bring transparency to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Why It Matters: 

The Fourth Amendment ensures our right to privacy and protects against unreasonable searches of Americans private records.

Browser data and internet search history is some of the most intimate and revealing information a person has. It can reveal your religious or political beliefs, your medical history, and even items that you bought recently.

This information should have the highest protections and should not be able to be accessed through government spy programs without a warrant.

What's Next:

While my amendment failed to get sixty votes in the Senate, the U.S. House can still take up my amendment and vote on it. I will continue to work with my colleagues to strengthen privacy protections and stop the government from spying on American citizens.

Best Wishes, 

Steve Daines
United States Senate