Retail theft bill spurs ‘very large and very dangerous’ surveillance fears
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act advances toward Senate attachment to the defense bill, drawing ACLU warnings of expanded ICE surveillance powers.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) passed the House 348-60 in June, and Senate supporters including Chuck Grassley are pushing to attach it to the annual defense policy bill. The bill would create an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, add criminal penalties for laundering stolen-goods proceeds with a $5,000 charging threshold, and broaden data sharing with retailers. The ACLU, NAACP LDF, and allied groups warn the vaguely drafted provisions would effectively grant DHS access to retail surveillance feeds such as cameras and license plate readers, while industry backers say it only enhances existing information sharing and could help fight cyber-enabled crime.
- CORCA passed the House 348-60 and may be added to the must-pass defense bill
- The bill creates a retail crime coordination center inside ICE's HSI division
- Adds money laundering penalties for stolen-goods proceeds with a $5,000 annual charging threshold
- ACLU and NAACP LDF say undefined terms like 'threats' enable broad DHS retail data access
- Supporters argue it improves coordination against organized theft and cybercrime without new surveillance authority
From the original article
6 min read at cyberscoop.com
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act has won a big House vote and could be on the fast track in the Senate — and supporters say it could help fight cybercrime.
By @timstarks · cyberscoop.com
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