EPIC Testifies in Support of Maryland Bill Requiring Warrant to Access State Agency Data

EPIC submitted testimony in support of SB 977 in Maryland, a bill that would require sensible restrictions on access to Marylanders’ information for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law. 

“Now, more than ever, there is a need to ensure Marylanders’ information is protected from federal phishing expeditions and that federal access to their information is transparent and restricted to what is necessary and proper,” EPIC wrote to the House Judiciary Committee.

SB 977 builds on existing Maryland law, which already restricts the disclosure of driver’s license information to federal immigration enforcement agencies. This bill would extend protections to all of Marylanders’ information held by Maryland state agencies and create consistency with how state agencies address requests from federal immigration enforcement agencies. To help accomplish these goals, SB 977 rightfully addresses downstream retention of data from state agencies by data brokers.