TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas legislators are wrestling with whether they should attempt to limit electronic surveillance and data-mining by state and local government agencies.
The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday on a bill described by sponsoring Republican Rep. Brett Hildabrand of Shawnee as an effort to curb domestic spying.
The panel took no action.
The measure would limit state and local agencies’ access to records held by a third party, such as cellphone or electronic banking data. The agency would have to obtain a warrant or get an individual’s consent to access such data.
But several law enforcement officials said the bill would hinder their ability to fight crime. Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said the measure is so broad that it would prevent Internet searches on suspects.
