Recently, Senator Ted Cruz from Texas impeded bipartisan efforts to enact a privacy law that would protect American citizens from having their private information disclosed by data brokers. His reasoning was rooted in concerns that law enforcement’s ability to track criminals could be compromised by limiting data access.

Cruz was the sole senator to reject Senator Ron Wyden’s proposed Senate Bill 2850, arguing that having access to certain data is necessary for law enforcement to keep convicted sex offenders away from children. Wyden, on the other hand, emphasized that the bill is designed to protect Americans from malicious actors using personal data for harmful purposes.

The Content of Senate Bill 2850

Senate Bill 2850 aims to prevent data brokers from sharing sensitive personal information indiscriminately, allowing anyone to access it with a mere credit card. Wyden stresses that this information can lead to severe threats such as violence and stalking.

Cruz, who has notably been critical of centralized digital currencies and surveillance tactics, expressed a desire to improve the bill’s effectiveness, stating, “I’m interested in expanding the protection to as wide a universe as is feasible, but that answer is not yet worked out.”

Cruz also turned down a more limited privacy bill from Wyden that aimed to protect only federal legislators, state officials, and sexual assault survivors, indicating his broader concerns regarding the implications of the legislation.

He conveyed to his colleagues that he is keen on ensuring Congress addresses privacy issues without neglecting the safety of law-abiding individuals.

Cointelegraph reached out for comments from both Cruz and Wyden but had not received any responses by the time of publication.

Source
Source: Freedom of the Press

The debate over privacy has intensified, especially in the crypto community, where users thrive on principles against surveillance. Reduced data sharing might also lower the risk of recurrent breaches, a persistent risk both in the US and worldwide.

The current debate over privacy laws has emerged in light of a tragic incident—the assassination of former Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman in her home this past June. Investigations revealed that the suspected assailant, Luther Boelter, had sourced Hortman’s address through data brokers.

Members of the cryptocurrency sector have experienced increased incidents of violence, including attacks leading to killings and abductions. Jameson Lopp maintains a database that highlights more than 50 such violent assaults targeted at crypto holders in 2025 alone.

In parallel, Senator Wyden has begun an investigation into the tax affairs of Dan Morehead, founder of Pantera Capital, alleging that he avoided over $100 million in US taxes by misrepresenting his residency and abusing Puerto Rico’s tax incentives. He claims that these tax exemptions were incorrectly applied to gains accrued primarily in California.

Cointelegraph also reached out to Morehead for comments but had not received any responses by the publication time.

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