Restoring Our Rights:
The Surveillance
Accountability Act

New legislation closes the "third-party loophole" and restores constitutional privacy protections in the digital age — requiring warrants for all government surveillance and data access.

SAA Surveillance
Account·
ability Act
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated."
— Fourth Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 1791 · Now applied to your digital life
Background · The Problem
Since the digital revolution, vast amounts of personal data flow through third-party companies every day — banks, cell carriers, app developers, and data brokers. Under the outdated "third-party doctrine," courts have held that Americans surrender their constitutional privacy protections the moment that data leaves their hands.

The result: federal agencies can purchase intimate details of your life — your location, finances, and associations — without ever appearing before a judge. As AI and data analytics advance, this capability will only grow more invasive. This legislation is designed to close it for good.
0 Judges required for agencies to buy your location, financial, or association data — today
The Third-Party Loophole · How it works right now
Step 01 · You Share Data
Your Data Flows to Third Parties

Every time you use a bank, phone, app, or website, your location, finances, and behavior are recorded by private companies.

›
Step 02 · The Loophole
"Voluntary" Disclosure

Courts ruled you "voluntarily" surrendered Fourth Amendment protections by sharing data — even when you had no real choice.

›
Step 03 · Government Access
No Warrant Needed

Federal agencies purchase that intimate data directly from brokers — bypassing judges entirely, with no probable cause required.

Five Things to Know
1
Warrantless Surveillance Is Legal Today

Any federal agency can pay a data broker for your location history, financial records, or religious and political associations — no warrant required.

2
This Bill Applies a Constitutional Standard

The legislation codifies what the Fourth Amendment always intended: government access to your private data requires judicial authorization.

3
Facial Recognition & License Plates Addressed

The bill closes the loophole allowing warrantless use of facial recognition and license plate readers to track people in public — preempting a fast-growing civil liberties threat.

4
Accountability Has Teeth

A private right of action means citizens can take the government to court — turning the law from a suggestion into an enforceable right.

5
This Is Not a Partisan Issue

Support comes from across the political spectrum. Privacy is a constitutional right, not a partisan talking point.

Who Is Affected
Citizens
American People

Restored contractual rights and privacy expectations when using phones, banking apps, and cloud services. Your daily life is no longer open for purchase.

Industry
Data Brokers

May no longer sell private data to government agencies that lack a valid warrant. Companies collecting data are otherwise unaffected.

Government
Law Enforcement

Retains full ability to obtain data — through the constitutionally required warrant process. Public information unaffected.

What the Bill Does
Provisions ✓
1
Warrant for targeted investigationsRequires a warrant when government seeks data as part of any investigatory act purposefully directed at a person, entity, or property.
2
Warrant for all surveillanceMandates warrants for any non-consensual surveillance, monitoring, or inquiry conducted by a government entity or its agents.
3
Closes biometric loopholesProhibits warrantless use of facial recognition and license plate readers to track people in public spaces without consent.
4
Closes the data purchase loopholeEliminates agencies buying data from brokers that would otherwise require a warrant to obtain directly.
5
Private right of actionAmericans may sue the government when their Fourth Amendment rights are violated — real enforcement, not just policy.
What the Bill Does NOT Do
Preserved Authorities ✗
✗
Does not obstruct legitimate police workPolice can still investigate crime — they simply need a lawful warrant. Standard investigative tools are fully preserved.
✗
Does not allow suits against senior officialsThe President and Vice President cannot be sued under this bill. Any such claims fall under existing law.
✗
Does not restrict public informationLaw enforcement retains full access to genuinely public information, including publicly accessible social media posts.
Case Studies · Real examples of warrantless data collection
Case 01 · DHS
Mass Location Tracking
The Department of Homeland Security purchased cell phone location data to track individuals across the Southwestern U.S. Over just three days, agents accessed up to 113,654 distinct location points — many belonging to people who had committed no crime and were never charged.
Thousands of law-abiding Americans had their daily movements monitored without a warrant, a judge, or any probable cause.
Case 02 · Federal Agencies
Violations Without Consequence
Federal employees who purchased data in violation of their own agency's privacy policies faced only administrative resolution — with minimal penalties. No criminal charges were filed. Buying your way around the Constitution carries essentially no risk.
Current law creates no meaningful deterrent for government overreach — which is precisely why a private right of action is essential.
Case 03 · Commercial Data
Sensitive Locations Exposed
A commercial data collector sold information enabling tracking of individuals at military bases, labor union meetings, and religious services — available on the open market to government agencies or foreign actors alike.
Americans exercising constitutionally protected activities — worship, assembly, free speech — are tracked and potentially targeted without their knowledge or consent.
Your Data Can Be Used Right Now · Without a Warrant
Tracking clinic visits
Identifying participants at religious events
Mapping a person's complete daily routine
Monitoring attendance at political rallies
Facial recognition & license plate tracking
Identifying and following potential whistleblowers