The Obama administration is attempting to make it easier for the FBI to force companies like your phone company or cable company who provide your internet service to turn over to the FBI details of your personal Internet activity without a court order - if they say some magic words for which they'll need no proof. So far, all they're asking for without a warrant are the e-mail addresses of people you talk with, the times and dates on which your e-mails were sent and received, and your personal internet browser history. Government lawyers say “content” is not included in these searches of your computer without your consent and without a court warrant. At least yet. The Fourth Amendment, in its entirety, says, and I quote, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." It definitely does NOT say that the FBI can come into your home electronically and search your personal papers and effects - in this case your computer - WITHOUT bothering to demonstrate probable cause to a judge, having a witness swear under oath that you're probably committing a crime, and have that judge then issue a warrant that specifically names the documents on your computer they want to search and seize. This is one of those areas where the Tea Party and Progressives are both concerned. Big Brother is on his way and it's up to us to yell...stop!
America's #1 Progressive Host & NY Times Bestselling Author
Comments
This is just a continuation and extention of Bush policies, isn't it?
Just another reason why it's imperative that Progressives re-capture the Dem Party. It begins at the local level. Get involved and nominate/elect your own delegates for county, state, national conventions... where you can select your own candidates for office.
Sometimes, only a half-dozen people are making the selections from your local precinct. They can be out-voted. Few participate at that level. As Thom often says, "Tag, you're it".
Retired Monk - "Ideology is a disease"
I think its fairly safe to say, the internet isn't REALLY a safe place for any sort of real discourse.
There are always those, whether it be government, or individuals, who will find away to tap into your personal email and accounts.
The important thing to note, is how do they really know that what they will find is the real you anyway?
Might be real hard in some cases... For example, my full (first + last, anyway) name is REALLY common. I share that name with over 570 people on Facebook alone. Try to find me on the Internet. However, if you reverse the search, you're starting with someone that has presumably already been identified.
So what are the "magic words?" The public could include them in every email and render the whole effort useless.
Don't you mean Bill Clintons "Echelon" Policy.
WOW!!!!
Bill Clinton was elected President 18 years ago and right-wingers are STILL blaming him for everything!!!!!
Might be real hard in some cases... For example, my full (first + last, anyway) name is REALLY common. I share that name with over 570 people on Facebook alone. Try to find me on the Internet. However, if you reverse the search, you're starting with someone that has presumably already been identified.
It wouldn't be your name that is reported/tracked - it would be the traffic associated with your IP address on record with the ISP which is tied to an account- it wouldn't track down to the individual level- only to the account level.
Bill Clinton was elected President 18 years ago and right-wingers are STILL blaming him for everything!!!!
You mean dispite the Fact Bill clinton had project Echelon..
Sort of like saying
George Bush was elected President 9 years ago and left-wingers are STILL blaming him for everything!!!!
internet sucks here
sorry
Big Bro couldn`t save the Soviet Union,I doubt Big Bro can save Capitalism.All they can hear, is how this bankrupt system will fail.Big Bro cannot force us to work to give value to the trillions of dollars the Federal Reserve gave the Banksters.The system is "Bankrupt",Big Bro is making it more Bankrupt. They are more of a waste than Wall St.