Bill would stop feds from mandating 'backdoor' to data

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is set to push for legislation that would bar federal agents from forcing tech companies to give them access to customers' emails, texts and photos.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) is sponsoring the Surveillance State Repeal Act with Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY). The bill includes a provision that the federal government cannot require electronics or software manufacturers to build in a mechanism to allow the government to bypass privacy technology. The bill's sponsors plan to push for the legislation after Congress returns from its two-week recess.