The second proposition that voters will find listed on their ballot this November pertains to an individual’s electronic data, communications, and whether law enforcement agencies have a right to it. It deals with unlawful search and seizure by the government.
Under Proposition 2, access to a person’s electronic data and communications would be protected from search and seizures performed by law enforcement and would require a warrant for them to be viewed. In other words, it would be unlawful for police to search through a citizen’s private data without permission from a judge.
What a "yes" vote for Prop 2 means:
- * A “Yes” vote supports this constitutional amendment to require a search warrant to access a person’s electronic data and electronic communications
What a "no" vote for Prop 2 means:
- A “No” vote opposes this constitutional amendment to require a search warrant to access a person’s electronic data and electronic communications
Background
While the current law requires all police departments and security agencies to acquire a warrant before searches and seizures of a person’s houses, papers, and possessions can be performed, “electronic data” and “electronic communications” is not mentioned in the language.
There is precedent for a legal challenge to a law enforcement agency's searching through one's cell phone. After that case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, a unanimous ruling from the court said a warrant was necessary to inspect the contents of an individual’s phone.
However, most Michigan law enforcement agencies treat cell phone data as private information. Prop 2 would remove any uncertainty about if phone data is considered private.
You'll find a sample of the proposal here