Friday, February 18, 2011

House Delays Vote on Patriot Act Provisions


Congress delays debate on Patriot Act and privacy. (Boston Globe, 2/18/2011)

Excerpt: Congress yesterday gave itself three more months to consider changes in provisions of antiterrorism law that have been used to track security threats but have drawn fire from defenders of privacy rights.

President Obama is expected to sign the bill before the provisions expire on Feb. 28.

At issue are law enforcement powers to set roving wiretaps to monitor multiple communication devices and to ask a special federal court for access to “any tangible thing’’ — from business records to library checkouts — that could be relevant to a terrorist threat. The third provision, from a 2004 intelligence act, gives the FBI court-approved rights for secret surveillance of non-American “lone wolf’’ suspects not known to be tied to specific terrorist groups
.  [Emphasis added.]

Related article:
Big oopsie for Young Gun and House Whip Kevin McCarthy.  (2/8/2011)

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