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Forum Post: Senate bill rewrite lets feds read your e-mail without warrants

Posted 11 years ago on Nov. 20, 2012, 11:12 a.m. EST by john23 (-272)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

A Senate proposal touted as protecting Americans' e-mail privacy has been quietly rewritten, giving government agencies more surveillance power than they possess under current law.

CNET has learned that Patrick Leahy, the influential Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, has dramatically reshaped his legislation in response to law enforcement concerns. A vote on his bill, which now authorizes warrantless access to Americans' e-mail, is scheduled for next week.

Leahy's rewritten bill would allow more than 22 agencies -- including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Communications Commission -- to access Americans' e-mail, Google Docs files, Facebook wall posts, and Twitter direct messages without a search warrant. It also would give the FBI and Homeland Security more authority, in some circumstances, to gain full access to Internet accounts without notifying either the owner or a judge.

It's an abrupt departure from Leahy's earlier approach, which required police to obtain a search warrant backed by probable cause before they could read the contents of e-mail or other communications. The Vermont Democrat boasted last year that his bill "provides enhanced privacy protections for American consumers by... requiring that the government obtain a search warrant."

continued................

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57552225-38/senate-bill-rewrite-lets-feds-read-your-e-mail-without-warrants/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title

26 Comments

26 Comments


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[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Election over, and the 'Police State' continues to expand authority.

Anyone know what the current house & senate bill titles are? Will contact NV reps.

[-] 2 points by freakyfriday (179) 11 years ago

HR 2471. I have since seen an article that Leahy has reversed course. I believe the linked cnet article in OP has the bill info link and a link to pdf of changes. They are to vote next Thur.

[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Thank you friday.

[-] 1 points by richardkentgates (3269) 11 years ago

That is because our government no longer represents the people. Yet you still approve their every act of treason against the American people with your continued voting. They are going to tear it down either way, stop approving it with your vote. If the worst of the two evils in an election wins, who cares. The Dems won and they don't seem to be doing any better at protecting the people, rather they are at war with the people. From the NDAA2012 on, they have declared war on the American people.

[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Agree.

[Removed]

[-] -2 points by janus2 (-387) 11 years ago

why is that the big names of ows have no interest in the govt reading private e-mail?

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Your not accusing OWS of enabling or approving of voyeurism - R U?

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Is there such a thing as big names of OWS?

[-] -2 points by janus2 (-387) 11 years ago

you're one of them along with vqkag, shooz shadz,girlfriday.

[-] 3 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Oh - does OWS know this? Perhaps you can let em know?

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

BTW - do I get a special bonus? I mean hell - I am a big name you say? Damn no one ever tells me anything.

I mean - do I get a discount at movie theaters or what?

[-] 1 points by gnomunny (6819) from St Louis, MO 11 years ago

No, no ticket discounts, but you WILL be master of ceremonies at that party we're throwing when your number gets up to 8675309

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Ah Jenny . . . sweet sweet Jenny. . . . aAHhahahaheeheheheehehooooo.

[-] 1 points by gnomunny (6819) from St Louis, MO 11 years ago

That was a good time on the forum.

Ah, memories!

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Jart got me a good one that time.

[-] 1 points by gnomunny (6819) from St Louis, MO 11 years ago

It just goes to show she has a great sense of humor. I'd been off the forum for a while and just caught the end, but apparently it was the result of an attack on you if I remember correctly. She handled it very well, I thought.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

It was not an attack on me - it was an attack on the forum and on all of the supporters of OWS - I just happened to be "one" of those attacked.

Yeah - pretty good sense of humor alright - I logged on one day to find the strangest looking score - 8675309 - ? - 8 million 675 thousand 309? What the hell? How in the hell did that happen..................

[-] 1 points by gnomunny (6819) from St Louis, MO 11 years ago

I thought the same thing. People talking about Jenny, then I saw your number and thought WTF? Then it clicked and I laughed my ass off.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Me too - once I figured it out - I pretty much fell over laughing.

[-] 0 points by BetsyRoss (-744) 11 years ago

Those are just some of the most frequent posters on this particular website.

[-] -2 points by janus2 (-387) 11 years ago

yes, and self important.

[-] 3 points by GypsyKing (8708) 11 years ago

I knew Tr@shy was around here somewhere. Are you and Betsy one and the same? Please tell.

[-] 0 points by freakyfriday (179) 11 years ago

Probably because it was a democratic senator that rewrote the bill away from the intent of requiring a warrant as passed by the House.

[-] -1 points by janus2 (-387) 11 years ago

yes, protect the dems , no matter how they come after your freedom.no matter how much they destroy the bill of rights.

[-] -2 points by janus2 (-387) 11 years ago

obama & co have no interest in "we the people" for them it's WE the GOVT.

[-] 0 points by Coyote88 (-24) 11 years ago

I seriously doubt that democrats would do this.