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HR 6199 112th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative law and regulatory procedures Aviation and airports Border security and unlawful immigration Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Criminal procedure and sentencing Evidence and witnesses Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Preserving American Privacy Act of 2012

Introduced: July 25, 2012 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 1, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jul 26, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Jul 25, 2012
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Jul 25, 2012
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Preserving American Privacy Act of 2012 - Prohibits a federal agency from authorizing the domestic use of an unmanned aircraft for law enforcement purposes or for surveillance of a U.S. national or real property owned by that national, including by any state or local government, except pursuant to warrant and in the investigation of a felony.

Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit a federal agency other than a federal law enforcement agency from using in the United States, or authorizing any federal officer or employee to use in the United States, an unmanned aircraft for such purposes, with the same exceptions. Prohibits the use of any information obtained in violation of such prohibition in a criminal proceeding before a federal court.

Subjects the domestic use of an unmanned aircraft to the same limitations and exceptions as apply in the case of any other search. Prohibits evidence obtained by an agency using an unmanned aircraft from being introduced in an administrative hearing.

Prohibits a federal agency from authorizing the domestic use of an unmanned aircraft to permit any private person to conduct surveillance on any other private person without the consent of that other person or the owner of any real property on which that other person is present.

What's happening now August 1, 2012

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

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6199: Preserving American Privacy Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6199/
MLA
"H.R. 6199: Preserving American Privacy Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6199/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6199, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6199/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6199: Preserving American Privacy Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-6199/)
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