Members of the Erie County Legislature’s Minority Caucus have introduced a resolution in opposition to a proposed state law that would require anyone applying for a gun permit to supply passwords to their social media accounts and allow investigators to review their internet search history.

NYS Senate Bill 9191, which can be found here, was introduced November 14th by Senator Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn). If passed, the law would authorize a State Police investigator or county judge to obtain log-in names, passwords or other means to major social media accounts including: Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram to review up to three years of social media posts. It would also allow up to one year of review for internet search history, limited to Google, Yahoo and Bing search engines. The law would apply to anyone applying for or renewing a pistol permit as well has anyone renewing an assault-style rifle owned prior to the SAFE Act’s passage in 2013. 

Legislator Joe Lorigo said, “Forcing law abiding citizens to turn over their social media passwords sounds like something out of a totalitarian regime. Quite frankly, I can’t believe any elected official would ever support this. I urge lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to reject this attempted abuse of governmental authority.”

 Legislator Ed Rath said, “This law would strip away freedoms protected under the First, Second and Fourth Amendments. New York State is already home to some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Our lawmakers need to support the rights of our citizens instead of imposing further restrictions and allowing an invasion of privacy.”