Mitch McConnell is pushing the Senate to pass a measure that would let the FBI collect Americans' web-browsing history without a warrant The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday to renew the 2001 Patriot Act, and Mitch McConnell is pushing an amendment to the law that would expand the FBI's surveillance powers. An amendment proposed by McConnell would, for the first time ever, let the FBI collect records on Americans' web-browsing and search histories without a warrant. Another amendment drafted by McConnell would give the attorney general more oversight of FBI investigations into political operatives, like the recent FBI investigation into the Trump campaign. A bipartisan group of senators proposed a measure to block the FBI from accessing people's web-browsing history without a warrant, but it failed by one vote on Wednesday. https://www.businessinsider.com/mcconnell-patriot-act-renewal-fbi-web-browsing-history-2020-5
Sounds like a great idea. I mean, it’s not like the FBI has a record of abusing its power. Really, they should get rid of requirements for warrants at all. They’re such a nuisance.
Love what Howard stern said yesterday. The people who love trump are exactly the kind of people he hates. Embarrassing for them. It’s like the groupies who meet NBA guys at their hotels. Yeah they’ll F you but when you leave they laugh at you.
Commies. "The amendment brought by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) — just seven lines in length — would have forced the government to first establish probable cause — or reasonable suspicion of a crime — to obtain the warrant. That’s a far higher bar than what’s required under existing law, which under the Patriot Act permits the bulk collection of Americans’ browsing records. But the amendment fell short by one vote of the required 60 votes to pass the chamber. Four senators did not vote on the amendment: Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who is in self-isolation after a staffer tested positive; Ben Sasse (R-NE); Patty Murray (D-WA); and former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT). As Wyden explained in his speech to the Senate prior to the vote: Right now, the government can collect web browsing and internet search history without a warrant under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Section 215 is the most controversial and dangerous provision of [the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]. That’s because it is so vague and so broad. Under Section 215, the government can collect just about anything so long as it is relevant to an investigation. This can include the private records of innocent, law-abiding Americans. They don’t have to have done anything wrong. They don’t have to be suspected of anything. They don’t even have to have been in contact with anyone suspected of anything. Their personal information just has to be “relevant.” https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/13/senate-warrant-americans-web-browsing-data/
