The ACLU of Alaska recognizes the goal of this legislation — to ensure law enforcement can have the tools needed to respond promptly to the vast array of emergencies that occur in Alaska. But, because of the sensitivity of this data, it is crucial that government access be permitted only in the context of strong safeguards that protect Alaskans’ privacy.
The bill is not necessary — an existing federal statute already allows voluntary disclosures by a provider “to a governmental entity, if the provider, in good faith, believes that an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires disclosure without delay of information relating to the emergency. (18 U.S.C. - 2702(c)(4)). HB 316 would require a stricter standard of mandatory disclosures in response to law enforcement requests.
