The General Assembly on Thursday advanced a bill sponsored by Assemblywomen Carol Murphy, Annette Quijano and Maureen Rowan to protect individuals from being electronically tracked without consent.
Bill A4542 would make it a fourth-degree crime to knowingly install a tracking device or application on another person to initiate or facilitate an unlawful act. Tracking devices are typically small enough to be concealed, and applications can be hidden.
“There are bad actors out there who know how to exploit tracking systems, and we’re highly concerned about electronic tracking devices and applications being used for stalking and other criminal acts,” said Assemblywoman Murphy (D-Burlington). “This bill is meant to address these growing concerns by making it a crime to use a tracking device on another person without their knowledge.”
The bill clarifies that placing or installing electronic location tracking technology is allowed in some cases. This includes when consent is given, a parent or guardian wants to know their minor child’s location, and when someone takes care of a person who may be at risk of injury or death and needs to be aware of their whereabouts. The bill would also not apply to State or local government entities and equipment leased, owned, or operated by those entities.
“Everyone deserves the right to move freely without fear of being secretly tracked,” said Assemblywoman Quijano (D-Union). “By criminalizing the unlawful use of tracking technology, we are taking an important step to protect privacy, safety, and personal autonomy in New Jersey.”
“As with any invention or innovation, we must ensure that the wellbeing of New Jerseyans is not compromised by these emerging technologies,” said Assemblywoman Rowan (D-Atlantic). “It’s our responsibility to protect the people in our state. That’s what we’re doing with this legislation.”