Blue Shield Privacy Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4828

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-02-24T09:05:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Blue Shield Privacy Act of 2025 aims to strengthen privacy protections for certain federal personnel, such as law enforcement officers and other public safety officials, by expanding the types of personal information that cannot be publicly disclosed without consent. This builds on existing federal laws that safeguard sensitive details to prevent harassment, threats, or doxxing (the malicious release of private information online).

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The legislation is titled the "Blue Shield Privacy Act of 2025."
• Amendment to Definition: It modifies Section 119(b) of Title 18, United States Code (which deals with crimes and criminal procedure), to broaden the definition of "restricted personal information."
• Added Items: Includes license plate number (the unique identifier on a vehicle's license plate), biometric information (biological traits like fingerprints, facial scans, or iris patterns used for identification), workplace address (the location of a person's job), school address (the location of a person's educational institution), and global positioning system (GPS) coordinates (precise location data from satellite navigation).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The current law (18 U.S.C. § 119) already protects items like home addresses and home phone or fax numbers for specified federal employees.
• This bill replaces the phrase "or home fax number of" with a more comprehensive list, explicitly adding the five new categories mentioned above.
• These changes make it a federal crime to knowingly and publicly disclose such expanded restricted information with intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite violence against the protected individuals.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and law enforcement bodies, may need to update internal policies, training, and data-handling procedures to comply with the broader protections, potentially increasing administrative workload but enhancing officer safety.
• On Citizens: Protected individuals (e.g., federal law enforcement) gain stronger safeguards against privacy invasions, which could reduce risks of personal harm. However, it might limit public access to certain information that was previously available, affecting transparency in some cases.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly support U.S. efforts in international forums on privacy and cybersecurity by demonstrating commitment to protecting public servants.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary Beneficiaries: Federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, prosecutors, judges, and other public safety personnel covered under 18 U.S.C. § 119.
• Government Entities: The U.S. Department of Justice, Congress (via the Judiciary Committee), and agencies responsible for enforcing privacy laws.
• General Public: Individuals who might seek or inadvertently access/disclose such information, including journalists, activists, or online users, who could face new legal risks for violations.
• Tech and Data Companies: Entities handling biometric data, GPS tracking, or vehicle information may need to adjust compliance practices to avoid facilitating prohibited disclosures.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens enforcement under federal criminal law by closing gaps in privacy protections, potentially leading to more prosecutions for doxxing-related offenses. It does not create new penalties but applies existing ones (fines and imprisonment) to the expanded information types.
• Constitutional: Balances First Amendment rights (free speech) with privacy interests, as courts have upheld similar restrictions on targeted disclosures that pose safety risks. No direct challenge to core constitutional principles is evident.
• Political: Introduced by bipartisan sponsors in the House, it reflects growing concerns over online threats to public servants amid rising political violence. Referral to the Judiciary Committee suggests it could advance as part of broader privacy or anti-harassment initiatives, though passage depends on legislative priorities.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Blue Shield Privacy Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (2 pages)