MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) — Wisconsin’s Legislature is considering a new law against using technology to stalk and harass people. The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the bill that creates measures designed to protect victims of unauthorized electronic tracking and surveillance.
The bill was authored by Senator Jerry Petrowski and Representative Adam Neylon, and establishes penalties for placing a global positioning device, or GPS device, on another person’s vehicle. The bill also would prohibit gathering data about someone’s movements and locations with a GPS device without permission. The proposal is designed to better protect a person’s privacy as technology changes.
Petrowski says, “As tracking technology becomes easier to obtain, it is important to protect the privacy of our citizens. This bill helps to empower victims of stalking by providing a way to pursue action against their aggressors.”
Neylon says, “There is no reason someone without an ownership interest in a vehicle should be allowed to place a GPS device on that vehicle. That’s stalking, and with the support of the State Senate and Governor Walker, it will become illegal in Wisconsin.”
There are exceptions built into the proposal to allow police to do official business. Parents and guardians could also continue to track their minor children and lienholders can still track vehicles they own.
The bill received unanimous support in the Assembly and is headed to the Senate floor for consideration. Petrowski is not sure which day the Senate will place the bill on the calendar.”]
The bill has received the enthusiastic support of both the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the ACLU.
