In an unexpectedly sweeping opinion, a nearly united Supreme Court today recognized the fourth amendment’s protection for digital privacy. Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion in Riley v. California is grounded on the Founders’ abhorrence of general warrants and unparticularized intrusions into our private lives. It highlights the pervasiveness of cell-phone (“minicomputer”) use, as well as the

In conjunction with the 2014 American Bar Association annual State of Criminal Justice publication, Louisa Marion and I have published a new chapter on “E-Discovery in Government Investigations and Criminal Litigation.” The article provides an in-depth look at many of the current and cutting edge issues raised by e-discovery in this context, including

We are pleased to announce the publication of a report titled “Data Law Trends & Developments: E-Discovery, Privacy, Cyber-Security & Information Governance.” The report explores recent trends and anticipated future developments on critical issues related to the intersection of technology and the law, which affect a wide range of companies and industries. In addition, the report highlights key cases and issues to watch in 11 areas of data law, including: information governance, cybersecurity, social media, technology-assisted review, criminal law, regulatory, cooperation, privacy, cross border transfers, bring your own device (BYOD), and privilege.
Continue Reading Crowell & Moring Releases “Data Law Trends & Developments” and Announces Expanded “Data Law Insights” Blog

In a remarkable decision addressing the reach of search warrants aimed at personal data stored by a third party in the cloud, a court ruled last week that an internet service provider (“ISP”) can be compelled to produce personal information located outside of the U.S. The decision by Magistrate Judge James Francis (S.D.N.Y.) denied Microsoft Corporation’s motion to quash a warrant requiring production of customer email content and related data stored on a server located in Dublin, Ireland. If adopted by other courts, the ruling could have far-reaching implications not only in the context of overseas cloud storage, but the privacy of personal data stored on third- party servers generally.

The specific issue addressed by the court concerns application of the infamously antiquated Stored Communications Act (“SCA”) of 1986, which allows the U.S. government to obtain information by subpoena, court order, or warrant from third parties such as ISPs. On December 4, 2013, the court approved the government’s request for a SCA search warrant to Microsoft seeking virtually all content and data associated with a particular email account. Microsoft produced all relevant information stored on its domestic servers, but moved to quash the warrant to the extent it sought information stored at its datacenter located in Dublin, arguing that U.S. courts are not authorized to issue extraterritorial search warrants. Notably, it is not clear from the decision whether the owner of the subject email account is a U.S. resident.
Continue Reading Court Holds That U.S. Government Can Seize Email Data Stored Overseas and Questions Applicability of Fourth Amendment to “Information Communicated Through the Internet”

The State Bar of California may soon deem an otherwise highly skilled attorney to be “incompetent” in the practice of law if he or she does not know the basic steps to take with respect to electronic discovery and does nothing to fill that gap in knowledge. On February 28, 2014, California’s State Bar Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct tentatively approved a Proposed Formal Interim Opinion for a 90-day public comment distribution, which analyzes a hypothetical fact pattern of an attorney who makes egregious mistakes in e-discovery.
Continue Reading California State Bar Offers Guidance on Attorney’s Ethical Duties in Handling E-Discovery

I recently published an article for InsideCounsel addressing ways companies can reduce risk and costs in litigation. I advocate appropriate self-help.

Unfortunately, the courts, regulators, and legislators have not fully kept up with the extraordinary pace of technological developments, the proliferation of ESI, and the growing use of social media, cloud computing, and other ESI-related

As the cyber threats continue to escalate sharply, Congress confronts a host of daunting tasks for bolstering cybersecurity, such as: balancing security while maintaining privacy; enhancing public-private partnerships while keeping information safe; and assuring accountability while maintaining flexible and agile security standards. At noon on November 7, Staff members from four Senate and House committees

2013 has been a historic year for cybersecurity, privacy and data breach issues. From the President’s Executive Order, to the revised NIST security & privacy controls, and to the groundbreaking Mandiant report on cyber espionage, the pressure is on for companies to secure their handling of sensitive data.

In order to mitigate the risk of

On Wednesday August 14, 2013, I will be participating in a free BNA webinar exploring the constitutional and practical dimensions of ESI in federal and state criminal actions. I will be speaking with an experienced group of panelists, including Hon. Craig B. Shaffer, United States Magistrate Judge, District of Colorado; Roy Altman, Assistant United States

In the Summer issue of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Magazine, I write about the Ninth Circuit’s watershed en banc ruling in United States v. Cotterman, 709 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 2013), that border agents must have “reasonable suspicion” before conducting forensic searches of laptops at the US border. The decision will