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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 4368 (116th)

Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2019

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

17 September 2019

Last action

2 October 2019 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

Sponsors

Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

Subjects

Defence, Digitalisation

Source updated

16 January 2025

Defence · Digitalisation

Summary

Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2019 This bill establishes federal standards and procedures for the use of computational forensic software. ( Computational forensic software refers to software that relies on an automated or semiautomated computational process to process, analyze, or interpret evidence.) It also prohibits the use of trade secret protections to prevent criminal defendants from accessing evidence. First, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) must establish the Computational Forensic Algorithm Standards for the development and use of computational forensic software. These standards must, among other things, address requirements related to software testing and reporting to criminal defendants on the use and results of software in their cases. Further, NIST must establish the Computational Forensic Algorithm Testing Program. The testing program must, among other things, test individual software programs using NIST standards. Federal law enforcement agencies and related crime laboratories must comply with these NIST standards and testing requirements in their use of computational forensic software. In addition, criminal defendants must receive information resulting from analysis by computational forensic software, including access to the software for testing purposes. Evidence resulting from computational forensic software is only admissible in a criminal case if (1) the software was submitted to the NIST testing program, and (2) the software developers and users waive their legal claims against the defense for the purposes of the defense analyzing or testing such software. The bill also prohibits the use of trade secret protections when a criminal defendant would otherwise be entitled to obtain evidence.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 17 September 2019

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 17 September 2019

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 17 September 2019

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 2 October 2019

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

    Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 17 September 2019

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 17 September 2019

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 17 September 2019

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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