Senate vote allows FBI access to your browsing history without a warrant

[Matrix]

 

 

 

Why it matters: The US has just voted to allow the FBI and other security agencies to access American citizens’ web histories without requiring a warrant. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) were trying to install privacy protections into the Patriot Act, but the amendment failed to pass by a single vote.

The Patriot act (Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism act) is a controversial piece of legislation that was made into law following the September 11 attacks. It gives law enforcement extra powers of surveillance, including record and private property searchers without notifying the individuals.

 

As reported by The Register, an addition to the Patriot Act, which is due to be renewed this week, would allow agencies to collect people’s browsing histories without requiring a warrant.

 

Wyden and Daines led the charge in trying to prevent the Patriot act changes by installing a warrant requirement, but the bipartisan amendment fell short of the 60-vote threshold by one vote, with many of those who were likely to vote in favor, including former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, absent.

 

 

“Is it right at this unique time when millions of law-abiding citizens are at home, for the government to be able to spy on their internet searches and web browsing without a warrant?” said Wyden.

 

“Should law-abiding Americans have to worry about their government looking over their shoulders from the moment they wake up in the morning and turn on their computers to when they go to bed at night? I believe the answer is no. But that’s exactly what the government has the power to do without our amendment.”

 

The addition to the Patriot act was drafted by Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Not only does it allow the collection of search and browsing data in section 215 of the law without probable cause, but that data is also likely to be stored and made available to multiple US agencies.

 

With Covid-19 causing millions of Americans to use the internet more than ever, the vote has come as a blow to privacy advocates. “The Patriot Act should be repealed in its entirety, set on fire and buried in the ground,” Evan Greer, the deputy director of Fight For The Future, told Motherboard.

 

“It’s one of the worst laws passed in the last century, and there is zero evidence that the mass surveillance programs it enables have ever saved a single human life.”

 

Source

[mp68terr]

Warrant, no warrant. Do these surveillance agencies really care about?

[Edion Gecos]

Not surprising at all.

The whole US political system is just a charade and shadow theater by two "wrestling teams" in a pre-fixed match that only benefits those already in power.

Some Democrats once in a while may be allowed to "take a stand" and give a "fiery speech" against (or alternatively for) a given measure/law, but then the corrupt party leadership in turn makes sure that "just enough" do actually vote for (or against) that measure/law for it (not) to pass. The way it was intended from the very beginning ... 

 

I wonder when finally enough people will wake up and see that the US is ruled by ONE oligarchic uni-party aka the "Republocrats/Demoblicans". 

The country is not divided in "left vs. right" but the divide is between the very few at the top and the "deplorable" masses at the bottom! 

 

Unfortunately, still to many people who watch MSNBC/CNN/Fox the whole day have an inculcated team-sports mentality of "my team Blue (or Read) is always right and the other team Red (or Blue) is evil incarnate". 

... and in addition, those stuck somewhat in the middle of the gaping top-bottom-divide often act like brainless cyclist in their futile attempt to "climb the ladder": they slavish bow to those above and kick down at those still below (and thus - according to purposeful propaganda - "threaten" their own fragile status)... 

[zanderthunder]

What a absurd decision to allow the enforcement accessing browser history without a warranty. A serious blow to privacy.

[frankl1n]

strict use of a VPN would thwart the FBIs ability to snoop would it not?

What about browser proxy extensions such as Windscribe or Opera browsers built in proxy?

[BimBamSmash]

I wonder why they decided to turn this into written-law now. They have been snooping into all kinds of private data for ages and nobody ever stopped them - not even after leaks.

[Edion Gecos]

On 5/17/2020 at 2:26 PM, BimBamSmash said:

I wonder why they decided to turn this into written-law now. They have been snooping into all kinds of private data for ages and nobody ever stopped them - not even after leaks.

 

... because now more than ever most people don't pay attention. (Almost 40 million lost their jobs in the past two months, joining those that already on a daily basis scramble not to go hungry, don't have healthcare, and constantly worry about their family's future.)

A proper law gives at least the facade of "legitimacy" - no need to pretend/lie in case a question does come up some day in the future.

[Akaneharuka]

May be after a few years FBI can enter your home without a warrant too 😇

[frankl1n]

8 hours ago, Akaneharuka said:

May be after a few years FBI can enter your home without a warrant too 😇

This comes close!