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HR 4977 108th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Commerce Electronic mail systems Fines (Penalties) Internet Right of privacy Science, Technology, Communications Storage Telecommunication industry

E-mail Privacy Protection Act of 2004

Introduced: July 22, 2004 Introduced by: Nadler, Jerrold Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 4, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jul 22, 2004
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 22, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Email Privacy Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal criminal code to include within the definition of "electronic communication" (and thus within the scope of provisions regarding the interception of communications) any temporary, intermediate storage of a communication incidental to the electronic transmission thereof.

Prohibits a provider of an electronic communication service from acquiring or using the contents of a stored electronic communication of which that provider is not an intended recipient, other than for the purposes of providing that service.

What's happening now August 4, 2004

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4977: E-mail Privacy Protection Act of 2004. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4977/
MLA
"H.R. 4977: E-mail Privacy Protection Act of 2004." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4977/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4977, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4977/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4977: E-mail Privacy Protection Act of 2004](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4977/)
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