Bill > S734

This bill aims to enhance protections for freedom of speech and association by amending existing laws related to criminal intelligence information. It redefines "Personal data" to exclude information that could interfere with investigations, invade privacy, reveal confidential sources, or endanger individuals. The bill mandates that "criminal intelligence systems," which are arrangements and procedures for handling criminal intelligence information including entities like the Commonwealth Fusion Center, conduct annual internal audits that will be made public, detailing user access, data transactions, and the sources and use of collected information. Furthermore, it requires these systems to provide unrestricted access to the inspector general for compliance reviews. Crucially, the bill prohibits the collection or maintenance of information about individuals' political, religious, or social views, associations, or activities unless it directly relates to an investigation of criminal activities and there are reasonable grounds to suspect involvement in criminal conduct. Any such collected information, termed "protected information," can only be disseminated to law enforcement agencies with prior written authorization and a record of the reasons, and all investigations based on this information must also be authorized in writing. Finally, all collected information must be reviewed every five years, with unreliable, inaccurate, or irrelevant data being destroyed, though records of authorizations and disseminations must be retained.