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Big Brother: Obama Demands Access to Internet Records, in Secret, and Without Court Review

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 11:12 — Dave Culver
Section(s): 
Human Rights & Civil Liberties

  • Internet users do not give up their privacy rights when they log on, and the FBI should not have the power to secretly demand that ISPs turn over constitutionally protected information about their users without a court order.
  • ACLU Report: Obama Continuing Bush-Era Torture Policies


Tom Burghardt, Global Research

The Obama administration is seeking authority from Congress that would compel internet service providers (ISPs) to turn over records of an individual's internet activity for use in secretive FBI probes.

In another instance where Americans are urged to trust their political minders, the Washington Post reported last month that "the administration wants to add just four words--'electronic communication transactional records'--to a list of items that the law says the FBI may demand without a judge's approval."

Under cover of coughing-up information deemed relevant to espionage or terrorism investigations, proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) would greatly expand the volume of private records that can be seized through National Security Letters (NSLs).

More...

Related:

ACLU Report: Obama Continuing Bush-Era Torture Policies, Deborah Weinstein,  TruthOut.org, in AlterNet

  • Fear of an unchecked, unaccountable government permeates the report, particularly in the section about targeted killings.
  • On torture, U.S. must clean house

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