Subpoena Abuse Prevention Act
Sponsored By: Senator Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Curtails bulk administrative subpoenas and strengthens privacy and First Amendment safeguards. This bill would force the government to identify targeted subscribers, ban many bulk collection requests, require a certification under penalty of perjury for subpoenas that could chill protected speech, and mandate yearly public reporting of subpoena use.
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- Families and users: Customers would be more likely to learn when a provider is asked for their records and gain extra protection against subpoenas aimed at investigating or retaliating for political or expressive activity.
- Service providers: Companies would be allowed to notify customers and consult attorneys by default. A government subpoena would be invalid if it lacks the required certification and could not be paired with a no-notice order.
- Federal agencies and courts: The government would have to identify the subscriber by name, address, temporary network address, or account identifier before the period ends, face limits on bulk collection of subscriber info, and publish an annual report covering the prior 12-month period listing subpoenas issued and accounts affected.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Limits on subpoenas for user data
This bill would stop the government from using subpoenas to investigate or punish people for speech, press, religion, assembly, or petition. It would require subpoenas seeking customer records to include an identifier like a name, address, temporary network address, or account username. It would require the issuing agency to send a sworn certification to the service provider saying the subpoena is for a lawful purpose and not aimed at protected activity. A subpoena without that certification would be invalid, and a court could not issue an order to block notice for such subpoenas.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov