Bill > SB624

This bill establishes strict protections against certain types of invasive digital surveillance by government entities in Oklahoma. The legislation specifically prohibits "reverse-keyword" and "reverse-location" court orders and requests, which are methods of obtaining broad, indiscriminate electronic data about individuals. These orders would typically involve compelling disclosure of information about people who searched for specific terms or were located in a particular geographic area at a specific time, using methods like GPS, cell tower data, or Wi-Fi positioning. The bill prevents government entities from seeking, obtaining, or using such information through court orders or voluntary requests, and bars courts from issuing these types of orders. If a government entity violates these provisions, the affected individuals have the right to sue for damages, with potential compensation of $1,000 per violation or actual damages, whichever is greater, and the possibility of punitive damages. When determining punitive damages, courts will consider factors such as the number of people affected, whether the surveillance targeted constitutionally protected activities, and the government entity's history of violations. The bill includes provisions to ensure that any evidence obtained through these prohibited methods cannot be used in legal proceedings, and it will take effect on November 1, 2025.

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http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb624&Session=2600