Which statute pertains to criminal investigations?

Which statute pertains to criminal investigations?

• A. 18 U.S.C. § 2702
• B. 18 U.S.C. § 2703
• C. 18 U.S.C. § 2519
• D. 18 U.S.C. § 552

Answer: (B)

Stored communications obtained during criminal investigations are governed by the Stored Communications Act, part of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. This is codified at 18 U.S.C. § 2703 and tells us when and how a law enforcement agency can compel a service provider to disclose stored electronic communications, metadata, and subscriber information, usually through warrants, court orders, or emergency requests. This statute specifically covers the process for obtaining digital evidence from providers, which is why it best fits the question about criminal-investigation authority. The other options address different issues: 2702 concerns voluntary disclosures of data by providers, not the compelled access during investigations; 2519 deals with penalties for intercepting communications, not the mechanism to obtain data; and FOIA-type provisions (public records) are unrelated to the criminal-investigation data-collection process.

Stored communications obtained during criminal investigations are governed by the Stored Communications Act, part of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. This is codified at 18 U.S.C. § 2703 and tells us when and how a law enforcement agency can compel a service provider to disclose stored electronic communications, metadata, and subscriber information, usually through warrants, court orders, or emergency requests. This statute specifically covers the process for obtaining digital evidence from providers, which is why it best fits the question about criminal-investigation authority. The other options address different issues: 2702 concerns voluntary disclosures of data by providers, not the compelled access during investigations; 2519 deals with penalties for intercepting communications, not the mechanism to obtain data; and FOIA-type provisions (public records) are unrelated to the criminal-investigation data-collection process.