N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 394-f
Warrants for electronic data related to legally protected health activities
Redline — January 1, 2024 → current.View current text →
Current — June 29, 2026
As of January 1, 2024
§ 394-f. Warrants for reproductive health related electronic data. 1.\nFor the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the\nfollowing meanings:\n a. "Electronic communication" means any transfer of signs, signals,\nwriting, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted\nin whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic\nor photo-optical system; provided, however, such term shall not include:\n i. any telephonic or telegraphic communication.\n ii. any communication made through a tone only paging device.\n iii. any communication made through a tracking device consisting of an\nelectronic or mechanical device which permits the tracking of the\nmovement of a person or object.\n iv. any communication that is disseminated by the sender through a\nmethod of transmission that is configured so that such communication is\nreadily accessible to the public.\n b. "Electronic communication services" means any service which\nprovides to users thereof the ability to send or receive wire or\nelectronic communications.\n c. "Prohibited violation" means any civil or criminal offense defined\nunder the laws of another state that creates civil or criminal liability\nor any theory of vicarious, joint, several or conspiracy liability for,\nin whole or in part based on or arising out of, either of the following,\nunless such out-of-state proceeding i. sounds in tort or contract; ii.\nis actionable, in an equivalent or similar manner, under the laws of\nthis state; or iii. was brought by the patient who received reproductive\nhealth care, or the patient's legal representative:\n (1) providing, facilitating, or obtaining reproductive health care\nservices that are lawful under New York law; or\n (2) intending or attempting to provide, facilitate, or obtain\nreproductive health care services that are lawful under New York law.\n d. "Reproductive health care services" means any services related to\nthe performance or aiding within the performance of an abortion\nperformed within this state that is performed in accordance with the\napplicable law of this state, ending, seeking to end, or aiding another\nin ending their pregnancy within this state, or procuring or aiding in\nthe procurement of an abortion within this state.\n 2. Any person or entity that is headquartered or incorporated in New\nYork that provides electronic communications services to the general\npublic, when, in New York, served with a warrant issued by another state\nto produce records in New York that would reveal the identity of the\ncustomers using those services, data stored by or on behalf of the\ncustomers, the customers' usage of those services, the recipient or\ndestination of communications sent to or from those customers, or the\ncontent of those communications, shall not produce those records when\nthe corporation knows that the warrant relates to an investigation into,\nor enforcement of, a prohibited violation.\n 3. Any person or entity that is headquartered or incorporated in New\nYork may comply with a warrant as described in subdivision two of this\nsection if the warrant is accompanied by an attestation made by the\nentity seeking the records that the evidence sought is not related to an\ninvestigation into, or enforcement of, a prohibited violation.\n 4. The attorney general may commence a civil action to compel any\ncorporation headquartered or incorporated in New York that provides\nelectronic communications services or remote computing services to the\ngeneral public to comply with the provisions of this section.\n
§ 394-f. Warrants for electronic data related to legally protected\nhealth activities. 1. For the purposes of this section, the following\nterms shall have the following meanings:\n a. "Electronic communication" means any transfer of signs, signals,\nwriting, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted\nin whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic\nor photo-optical system; provided, however, such term shall not include:\n i. any telephonic or telegraphic communication.\n ii. any communication made through a tone only paging device.\n iii. any communication made through a tracking device consisting of an\nelectronic or mechanical device which permits the tracking of the\nmovement of a person or object.\n iv. any communication that is disseminated by the sender through a\nmethod of transmission that is configured so that such communication is\nreadily accessible to the public.\n b. "Electronic communication services" means any service which\nprovides to users thereof the ability to send or receive wire or\nelectronic communications.\n c. "Gender-affirming care" shall have the same meaning as defined by\nsection 570.17 of the criminal procedure law.\n d. "Legally protected health activity" shall have the same meaning as\ndefined by section 570.17 of the criminal procedure law.\n e. "Prohibited violation" means any investigation or proceeding that\nseeks to impose civil or criminal liability, professional sanctions, or\nany other legal consequences upon a person for any legally protected\nhealth activity, unless such proceeding i. sounds in tort or contract;\nii. is actionable, in an equivalent or similar manner, under the laws of\nthis state; and iii. was brought by the person who received reproductive\nhealth care or gender-affirming care, or the person's legal\nrepresentative, provided the person has given express consent unless\nexpress consent is not feasible due to their injury or death.\n f. "Reproductive health care" shall have the same meaning as defined\nby section 570.17 of the criminal procedure law.\n 2. Any person or entity that is headquartered or incorporated in New\nYork that provides electronic communications services to the general\npublic, when, in New York, served with a warrant issued by another state\nto produce records in New York that would reveal the identity of the\ncustomers using those services, data stored by or on behalf of the\ncustomers, the customers' usage of those services, the recipient or\ndestination of communications sent to or from those customers, or the\ncontent of those communications, shall not produce those records when\nthe corporation knows that the warrant relates to an investigation into,\nor enforcement of, a prohibited violation.\n 3. Any person or entity that is headquartered or incorporated in New\nYork may comply with a warrant as described in subdivision two of this\nsection if the warrant is accompanied by an attestation made by the\nentity seeking the records that the evidence sought is not related to an\ninvestigation into, or enforcement of, a prohibited violation.\n 4. The attorney general may commence a civil action or special\nproceeding to enforce the provisions of this section.\n
Official source: NYS Open Legislation (New York State Senate). Reproduced from public-domain New York statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.