House Appropriations panel approves e-mail privacy amendment

The House Appropriations Committee unanimously adopted an amendment that would require certain federal agencies to obtain a warrant before seizing e-mails and other online messages.

The amendment, offered by Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.), was added to the Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. The privacy requirement covers the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies funded by the legislation. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation earlier this year that would set a warrant-standard for all online messages. Lawmakers in the House are working on companion legislation. Under current law, government officials only need a subpoena, issued without a judge's approval, to compel Internet companies to turn over their users' private messages.