Sen. Mark Kirk calls on Congress to protect digital privacy

Sen. Mark Kirk, a moderate Republican from Illinois, released a video on Thursday in support of legislation that would make it illegal to track and log the location of individual Americans without their consent.

"Each American's privacy is protected by the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures," he said. "Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers made America one of the first places where the government needed an independent judge's warrant before searching your home.

"While you're 18th century rights are protected, your privacy in the 21st century is in danger. Congress should updated the law to make sure your digital privacy is protected too."

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) introduced the Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance (GPS) Act in June.

The legislation would make it a crime for commercial entities to disclose digital location data from cell phones and other devices. It would also require a warrant for the government to obtain that information.

"Telecom firms collect the details of your life in countless ways," Kirk continued. "Cell phone locations, GPS, apps and more. While the government has to get a warrant to secretly record your phone call, you have no such privacy when they track your location, where you called, or who you've been with."

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube, below: