By Gloria Ogbonna
In a significant move towards safeguarding individual privacy, the House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 4639, better known as the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act, with overwhelming bipartisan support.
This legislation, which garnered a 219-199 vote, marks a pivotal step in preventing government agencies from acquiring Americans’ private data through third-party brokers, a practice that many argue circumvents the protections enshrined in the Fourth Amendment.
Despite facing opposition from the Biden administration, proponents of the bill, such as Representative Davidson, emphasized the fundamental importance of protecting citizens’ constitutional rights.
Davidson highlighted the bipartisan and bicameral agreement that the government must respect and uphold these rights, underscoring the necessity of passing the bill to halt the unconstitutional sale of personal data without proper legal oversight.
Originally proposed as an amendment to the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA), the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act had to be considered independently on the House floor, signaling the urgency and significance of addressing privacy concerns.
This decision underscored the need for a dedicated legislative effort to close the data broker loophole and prevent government overreach in surveillance activities.
In addition to bipartisan support within Congress, the bill also garnered widespread public approval, as evidenced by a YouGov poll commissioned by FreedomWorks and Demand Progress.
The poll revealed that an overwhelming 80 percent of Americans support closing the data broker loophole, highlighting the broad consensus on the importance of protecting privacy rights in the digital age.
Furthermore, the passage of the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act represents a notable victory for the conservative-progressive partnership against government surveillance.
Representative Sara Jacobs, a co-leader of the bill, emphasized the bipartisan nature of the effort, emphasizing that individual rights should not be subject to a price tag.
Her sentiment echoed the broader sentiment among lawmakers and the public alike, who recognize the importance of safeguarding privacy rights in an increasingly digitized and interconnected world.
The support for the bill extended beyond traditional political boundaries, with Second Amendment groups such as Gun Owners of America voicing their endorsement.
They hailed the passage of the legislation as a win for both the Second and Fourth Amendments, highlighting the interconnectedness of civil liberties and the need for comprehensive protection against government intrusion.
Overall, the passage of the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act represents a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to balance national security concerns with individual privacy rights.
By closing the data broker loophole and establishing clear safeguards against government overreach, lawmakers have taken a crucial step towards upholding the principles enshrined in the Constitution and ensuring the protection of Americans’ fundamental rights in the digital age.
source breitbrat