This bill, the Surveillance Accountability Act, would add a new section (3119) to Title 18 of the U.S. Code and create a private cause of action (new 1979A). It requires a warrant based on probable cause for searches that significantly affect a person's privacy or security. The bill says the government cannot access data or metadata held by third parties (for example, telecoms, cloud providers, or financial firms) without a valid warrant, and it prevents interpreting ordinary user contracts as waiving that warrant requirement unless the waiver is knowing, voluntary, and explicit.
The bill lists exceptions where searches may be done without a warrant, including plain-view observations, ID checks during stops or travel, publicly posted information that needs no circumvention, publicly available sources, consent, and exigent circumstances. It also limits those exceptions so they do not allow warrantless collection, retention, querying, or analysis of certain data if a person did not give informed and voluntary consent. The bill names biometric data (like facial images or voice recognition) and vehicle data from automated license plate readers as examples of protected data.
The bill defines "search" broadly to include investigatory acts directed at a person or property, government surveillance or monitoring of communications, associations, employment, social media, internet use, financial transactions, travel, and collection of personal data such as geolocation, device activity, biometrics, and financial records. Section 3 (1979A) would let any person harmed by a Fourth Amendment violation under color of U.S. authority sue for redress, allow courts to award reasonable attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs (other than the United States) at the court's discretion, and defines "Federal employee" for the section. The bill includes a severability clause.
If this bill became law, many government searches of your digital and physical information would generally need a warrant supported by probable cause. Agencies would generally need a warrant to access data held by other companies about you. The bill would give individuals a right to sue in court if they believe their Fourth Amendment rights were violated under U.S. authority. The bill was introduced on April 23, 2026, by Representatives Thomas Massie and Lauren Boebert and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
No publicly available information.
The text of the bill shows its purpose is to require warrants for searches that significantly impinge on privacy and to provide a private right of action for Fourth Amendment violations.
No publicly available information.