In our digital age, governments and corporations are armed with powerful tools that enable them to access our personal, private information — and even that of our children — without our knowledge or consent.
These regular incursions into our privacy are made easier by the fact that our laws have failed to keep up with new technologies. The question is, do we have the political will to do anything about it?
Undoubtedly, there is a prevailing sentiment in our country that we are so politically divided that we cannot even work together on issues of great importance to the American public. While that sad narrative is often the case, it does not generally prevail when we pursue laws that empower Americans to take control over their personal privacy.
That is why I stand with my fellow legislators from across the nation to announce our mutual support for efforts that protect Americans’ privacy. These legislative colleagues are Democrats and Republicans — conservatives and progressives — and they come from places as geographically diverse as Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire and Alabama. Our collective announcements not only represent an important moment for privacy, but also for the United States of America.
A recent poll found that 90 percent of Americans want the next president of the United States to prioritize “protecting privacy so (Americans) have more control over our personal information.” My colleagues and I agree, but we are not prepared to wait for Congress or the next president to act. The right to privacy is a fundamental American value and, where need be, the states are more than willing to take the lead in protecting that right.
To that end, I’ve joined a number of legislative colleagues here in Minnesota to focus on our state’s attention on the issue of privacy for all Minnesotans, including bills that focus on student and employee privacy rights, and a bill that would make important advancements in protecting the privacy of all Minnesotans.
Using stealth, secret or concealed technologies to surreptitiously access our data without our consent is simply not an acceptable practice. If the government or a corporation wants to search through our private information, be it in physical or electronic form, they must either get a warrant or get our express permission to do so. Otherwise, they shouldn’t be doing it at all.
The citizens of our state and nation should feel that governments and corporations are working to protect their privacy, not to violate it. If adopted, the legislation I am proposing — along with that being proposed around the nation — helps us take an important step in the right direction.
John Lesch, a St. Paul Democrat, is a member of the Minnesota House.
(Published in the Pioneer Press)