Section § 7598.5

Explanation

This section defines terms related to digital information and sets limits on how the state of California can interact with federal requests for data. 'Electronically stored information' refers to data in digital form, while 'metadata' includes details like time, date, and location of communications, but not their content. The law prohibits the state from helping federal agencies collect this kind of data if the state knows the collection is illegal or unconstitutional. Basically, it restricts the state's involvement in unlawfully gathering personal digital data on behalf of federal entities.

(a)CA Government Code § 7598.5(a) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1)CA Government Code § 7598.5(a)(1) “Electronically stored information” means data that is created, altered, communicated, and stored in digital form.
(2)CA Government Code § 7598.5(a)(2) “Metadata” means data bearing the record of and not the content of communication, including, but not limited to, the time, date, location, duration, origin, or subject of the communication, and the identity of the person, persons, group, or entity sending or receiving the message.
(b)CA Government Code § 7598.5(b) The state shall not provide material support, participation, or assistance in response to a request from a federal agency or an employee of a federal agency to collect the electronically stored information or metadata of any person if the state has actual knowledge that the request constitutes an illegal or unconstitutional collection of electronically stored information or metadata.