us Dems want warrantless access to your email

[HSoft]

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."

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

[Hum]

Cool -- they can answer all those spam messages promising million$ and easy sex.

[Routerbad]

Haha, I doubt that's what they're interested in. It isn't just email. It's facebook posts, IM's, Google Docs (and by extension, Office 365 docs). Anything you put online, even in situations where you would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It would basically nullify your 4th amendment rights when online.

In other words, http://www.france24.com/en/20121119-india-holds-woman-facebook-post-thackeray this would not be far off.

[Neowon]

Very touchy subject isn't it? Wonder what's next.

[Soldiers33]

And just an another sign of america trying to control the whole world under one goverment. Had a very interesting read about freemasons the other day and everything just falls into place. First emails then letters, then banks. Soon everyone will be like sheep.

[Neowon]

If you have nothing to hide then you shouldn't worry. Then again why would I want anyone to read my personal emails. This is getting out of hands.

[Lord Method Man]

Ah, from the same ******* who introduced PIPA last year. Guess he still needs something to do after 37 years in the Senate.

[Shane Nokes]

And just an another sign of america trying to control the whole world under one goverment. Had a very interesting read about freemasons the other day and everything just falls into place. First emails then letters, then banks. Soon everyone will be like sheep.

Indeed, and that interesting thing you read about freemasons was likely full of crap. :p

My grandfather was a freemason...and it's not what you think it is.

[Spartan Erik]

For once, I'll be happy if the House Republicans shoot down this piece of legislation haha

Political gridlock FTW? (in this case)

[siah1214]

If you have nothing to hide then you shouldn't worry. Then again why would I want anyone to read my personal emails. This is getting out of hands.

I'm going to put a camera in your bedroom. If you have nothing to hide then you shouldn't worry.

[Nothing Here]

Don't let no one fool you, but both major parties have been calling for this for a very long time. Nothing new to see here.

[M_Lyons10]

The Democrats get scarier every day. Not because they want to increase the size of government and take all of your rights away, but because they do so under the guise of laws that they claim will help YOU out... LOL It's so unbelievably shady.

[2xSilverKnight]

The Democrats get scarier every day. Not because they want to increase the size of government and take all of your rights away, but because they do so under the guise of laws that they claim will help YOU out... LOL It's so unbelievably shady.

Republicans would have done the same. Same ****

[McKay]

My grandfather was a freemason...and it's not what you think it is.

I'm in the Stonecutters.

[Neowon]

I'm going to put a camera in your bedroom. If you have nothing to hide then you shouldn't worry.

Whoa, El creepo. I get your point.

[dippednbutter]

Thank you Patrick Leahy for further attempting to deteriorate our privacy. File him under douche of the year. As if warrants weren't enough to get the job done.

[Shane Nokes]

I'm in the Stonecutters.

Indeed...aren't the secret plans for world domination and the destruction of the worlds governments in order to ensure your reign awesome? ;) :p

[Growled Member]

I don't see how this could possibly surprise anyone. Both sides are for bigger government, regardless of what they say.

[Growled Member]

A Democrat did this? Do tell.

[FloatingFatMan]

Soon everyone will be like sheep.

If you have nothing to hide then you shouldn't worry. Then again why would I want anyone to read my personal emails. This is getting out of hands.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

[*RedBull*]

So down goes the freedoms that the US once stood for thanks to the Democrats that the majority (mindless emotion driven sheep) elected.

[FloatingFatMan]

So down goes the freedoms that the US once stood for thanks to the Democrats that the majority (mindless emotion driven sheep) elected.

Do you really think it'd actually be ANY different under the Republicans?

All politicians are the same, in it for self interest only. The average guy in the street will still be bent over and butt raped, no matter what colour badge the buggers are wearing.

[*RedBull*]

Do you really think it'd actually be ANY different under the Republicans?

All politicians are the same, in it for self interest only. The average guy in the street will still be bent over and butt raped, no matter what colour badge the buggers are wearing.

I'm not going to argue that. It's the Dems who are invading privacy and violating the constitution.

[FloatingFatMan]

I'm not going to argue that. It's the Dems who are invading privacy and violating the constitution.

Using laws enacted by the Rebuplicans, such as the PATRIOT act. So no, it's really not worth arguing, is it? :p

[*RedBull*]

Using laws enacted by the Rebuplicans, such as the PATRIOT act. So no, it's really not worth arguing, is it? :p

Why do you choose to skirt the real issue of the violation of the constitution? Does it really bother you that the Democrats are being fingered for this?