Innovation is the driving force behind a strong and growing economy, and nowhere is that better exemplified than in Silicon Valley, America’s hub of innovation. As a recognized leader and respected voice on technology issues, Zoe advocates strongly for Silicon Valley in Washington, D.C.
Advancing Internet Freedom
A longtime champion of a free and open Internet, she supports free expression, universal network access, and privacy protection. Recognizing that technology and Internet services are thriving components of our economy and culture, she is an advocate for multi-stakeholder Internet governance and removing barriers to innovation.
Leadership in the Digital Age
Among her colleagues in Congress, she is valued for her thoughtful insight and the forward-leaning policies she advances to spur the development of new technologies and the growth of America’s economy in the Digital Age. Zoe was also instrumental in the selection of Silicon Valley for a new regional patent office so startups and inventors can have direct access to the services they need to thrive and innovate.
Zoe’s Committee assignments on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee provide strong platforms to advocate for issues that are key to Silicon Valley.
Zoe’s Internet Freedom and Innovation Agenda in the 114th Congress:
Privacy and Cybersecurity Reform
Online Communications and Geolocation Protection Act
Introduced by U.S. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ted Poe (R- Texas), and Suzan DelBene (D- Wash.), the bill modernizes the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) by requiring government agencies to obtain a search warrant based on probable cause prior to intercepting or forcing disclosure of electronic communications or geolocation data.
The 1986 law – intended to set legal standards that law enforcement agencies must meet to access electronic communications – has failed to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology, leading to weak and convoluted privacy protections from government access to user data. As consumers and businesses increasingly use cloud computing and location-based services, the law’s standards no longer reflects the way these services are used today, nor adequately protect Americans’ right to privacy.
The Online Communications and Geolocation Protection Act fixes ECPA by applying Constitutional privacy guarantees under the Fourth Amendment to an individual's digital communications and location data while minimizing the impact on law enforcement investigations.
Surveillance Order Reporting Act
The Surveillance Order Reporting Act will enable companies to publicly shed light on the number of surveillance orders they receive from government agencies and how many of their users are affected by those demands for information. The bill permits companies to publicly estimate the number of data requests they receive and the number of individuals targeted for data collection orders under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and national security letters.
Currently, companies are barred from disclosing even basic information about the requests they receive. This lack of basic information impedes informed public debate, undermines user trust in Internet services, and has led to strained relationships between U.S. companies and international business partners.
Secure Data Act
The Secure Data Act protects Americans’ privacy and data security by prohibiting surveillance agencies from requiring or compelling surveillance “backdoors” in products and services.
It has been widely reported that US intelligence and law enforcement agencies have requested or required individuals and organizations build a “backdoor” into their product or service to assist in unwarranted electronic surveillance. But on more than one occurrence, major security flaws have been found in these “backdoors” that put the data security of every person and business using the internet at risk. It’s simple — if a backdoor is created for law enforcement and intelligence surveillance, it’s only a matter of time before hackers exploit it too.
The Secure Data Act fixes this by prohibiting any agency request or compel "backdoors" in services and products to assist with electronic surveillance.
Competition and Innovation
Global Free Internet Act
The Gobal Free Internet Act helps preserve the structural foundation of the Internet, bolster Internet commerce, and protect the free expression and privacy of all Internet users. The bill creates a task force to identify, prioritize, and develop a response to policies and practices of the U.S. government, foreign governments, or international bodies that deny fair market access to Internet-related goods and services, or that threaten the technical operation, security, and free flow of global Internet communications.
Unlocking Technology Act
The Unlocking Technology Act allows consumers to permanently unlock all their mobile devices and media - not only cell phones - in ways that do not infringe on existing copyrights. Current cell phone unlocking law merely reinstates a temporary exemption and still relies on the Library of Congress to renew it every three years, which it may choose not to do. The Unlocking Technology Act makes a cell phone exemption permanent and extends unlocking protections to all mobile devices. The bill would also permit the use and sale of tools — like software apps — that enable unlocking for uses that do not infringe on copyright, and consumers would not be required to obtain permission from their carrier before switching to a new carrier. The legislation further requires these changes be included in any international trade agreements.
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