what is ecpa or the electronic communications privacy act? >> guest: ecpa is, quite simply, in today's world the average american expects that the e-mail they send to their loved one is going to have the same constitutional protections as the love letter they may have put in their desk. but unfortunately, our laws that govern when police can access digital content haven't been updated since 1986. in the interim, there have been courts that have said police have to get a warrant before they get things like e-mails or private facebook messages. what this would do is, essentially, put that protection into the law. that's consistent with the policy adopted by the fbi. it's similar to what google, microsoft and other major providers already require. but what it does is put that requirement into the law, eliminating any ambiguity about the protections that should apply to people's private, sensitive digital information. >> host: now, what's the legislative discuss of an update to ecpa right now? >> guest: you know, right now the house has passed a

porter, what do you think about the legislative efforts to update the ecpa? bryan: i don't think i am too far apart from the positions just dated a few minutes ago. actually, in virginia we have been very proactive with making sure that warrants are obtained when trying to get people's electronic communications. have obtainedr, i e-mails, but every single time we have used a search warrant. i think what is important from what was said is that what needs to happen is ecpa when amended give the same protection as that love letter. additional protection. from the investigative and law enforcement field, that is our , to make sure of electronic communications are provided with the same level of protection, not an extra level protection, beyond what you would expect in your home or bank count -- account. peter: what if they were to add an extra layer? editionn the revised before the senate, does not allow for the traditional exceptions that are often used by law enforcement in a critical orsing persons case someone's personal, physical safety in danger. are limite

our position is currently written and contemplated by ecpa. it's one of our main areas of concern. one other area in the investigative field in investigative field and the law enforcement arena is the fact that there really isn't any industrywide standards for providers. i can tell you from personal experience it's a much different. dealing with facebook for example than google in relation to the amount of information we get back, the rapidity in which it's actually given to us and the obstacles we face dealing with these different providers. one of the things we would also like to see is that ecpa when it is amended and enacted would give us some kind of standards for the providers to follow so we have some determination when the information is good to be given to us in what circumstances. >> host: before we introduce our guest reporter, neema singh guliani, what did you hear from mr. porter? >> guest: the issues raised are addressed in the legislation. it's not providing more protection to your e-mail. if providing the equivalent protection that the constitution requires you in r

taking you on the road to the white house on c-span, c-span radio, peter: what is ecpa