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The Patriot Act of is up for renewal. This act of Congress from the Bush Cheney years has come under fire for permitting the secret wiretapping of American citizens without a warrant, preventing individuals with controversial political views from entering the country under it's censorship at the border provision, and other restrictions to civil liberties in response to the 9/11 terror attacks.
Under the Patriot Act "any tangible things" of yours including books checked out, medical files and financial records can be demanded by the FBI from any entity. The government does not need to show reasonable suspicion that these documents are related to a crime to do so under this act, whereas prior to 2001 the FBI was required to possess evidence that you were an agent of a foreign power to request your records.
This surveillance bill is not only back, but it's expanding, with an amendment by Mitch McConnell for the collection of the internet search and browsing history of American citizens by the FBI without a warrant. This amendment would also mandate the attorney general review information that the FBI submits to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court.
In senator Ron Wyden of Oregon's words, "Under the McConnell amendment, Barr gets to look through the web browsing history of any American—including journalists, politicians, and political rivals—without a warrant, just by saying it is relevant to an investigation."
Wyden, a democrat, and Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, a Republican, proposed a bipartisan amendment in response to McConnell's, which would have expressly prohibited government agencies like the FBI or CIA being able to rifle through your personal internet search history without evidence of a crime. However, the Wyden Daines amendment was defeated this week, receiving 59 votes in favor instead of the 60 required to adopt the amendment.
https://markets.businessinsider.com...al-fbi-web-browsing-history-2020-5-1029199316
The American Civil Liberties Union is imploring the house to revive this amendment. As things currently stand however there is still no check and balance to your Internet Service Provider turning over your history to the authorities.
I am adamantly opposed to this continued erosion of civil liberties. If this doesn't constitute unreasonable search and seizure, I don't know what does...
Under the Patriot Act "any tangible things" of yours including books checked out, medical files and financial records can be demanded by the FBI from any entity. The government does not need to show reasonable suspicion that these documents are related to a crime to do so under this act, whereas prior to 2001 the FBI was required to possess evidence that you were an agent of a foreign power to request your records.
This surveillance bill is not only back, but it's expanding, with an amendment by Mitch McConnell for the collection of the internet search and browsing history of American citizens by the FBI without a warrant. This amendment would also mandate the attorney general review information that the FBI submits to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court.
In senator Ron Wyden of Oregon's words, "Under the McConnell amendment, Barr gets to look through the web browsing history of any American—including journalists, politicians, and political rivals—without a warrant, just by saying it is relevant to an investigation."
Wyden, a democrat, and Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, a Republican, proposed a bipartisan amendment in response to McConnell's, which would have expressly prohibited government agencies like the FBI or CIA being able to rifle through your personal internet search history without evidence of a crime. However, the Wyden Daines amendment was defeated this week, receiving 59 votes in favor instead of the 60 required to adopt the amendment.
https://markets.businessinsider.com...al-fbi-web-browsing-history-2020-5-1029199316
The American Civil Liberties Union is imploring the house to revive this amendment. As things currently stand however there is still no check and balance to your Internet Service Provider turning over your history to the authorities.
I am adamantly opposed to this continued erosion of civil liberties. If this doesn't constitute unreasonable search and seizure, I don't know what does...
