The Email Privacy Act updates federal privacy laws governing how email and electronic communications service providers must handle user data requests from law enforcement. The bill requires that government agencies obtain a warrant issued by a court before accessing the contents of stored electronic communications, eliminating a previous exception that allowed access to emails stored for more than 180 days with just a subpoena. The legislation applies to both traditional email providers and cloud computing service providers that store user data, and it clarifies that providers may notify users when they receive legal demands for their information, except in cases where notification is prohibited by court order. The bill also establishes exceptions allowing law enforcement to access communications without a warrant when they involve company employees acting in their official capacity or public promotional materials. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are included in the bill text.
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