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Del. Sam Rasoul calls for limits on government data collection

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Rasoul HeadshotDel. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke City) commended the House of Delegates committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety for moving forward HB1673, a bill that will limit government retention of personal data.

The bill, patroned by Delegate Richard Anderson (R-Woodbridge), restricts the amount of time a law enforcement agency can retain data from a license plate reader and ensures that such data can only be used for criminal or missing person investigations.  The measure is a “step in the right direction,” according to Rasoul.

“Our government should not be probing and storing data without reasonable cause,” said Rasoul.  “We have long been protected from unreasonable search and seizure by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”

“Steps must be taken to prevent government overreach by making sure constitutional protections apply with regard to 21st century technology. Innocent people should not be subject to personal data being stored without their knowledge or consent,” he continued.

Rasoul added that he hopes future measures can expand on the bill, ensuring that citizens are protected from personal data being scanned and kept without cause.

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