Sen Markey Praises Verizon Decision to Publish Data Requests

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) one of the Hill's point men on online privacy and security, praised a decision by Verizon to start publishing a report of law enforcement requests for mobile customer data.

Sen Markey has been investigating government requests for data from wireless customers and said he will be introducing legislation requiring regular disclosure from the law enforcement side on the "nature and volume" of such requests. Sen Markey says the bill will also "curb bulk data requests, require warrants for geolocation information requests..." “Verizon is taking an important step toward transparency, and I call on the other wireless carriers to follow its lead and regularly disclose their law enforcement requests for wireless information," the Senator said in a statement. "We clearly need more sunlight in this area, and I soon will introduce legislation to strengthen privacy safeguards for consumers. Reporting is a critical first step towards informing Americans about the nature and extent of wireless surveillance. We need to put rules on the books that protect Americans’ privacy and rights.”