Washington • The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents — allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention.
The FBI soon plans to issue a new edition of its manual, called the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, according to an official who has worked on the draft document and several others who have been briefed on its contents. The new rules add to several measures taken over the past decade to give agents more latitude as they search for signs of criminal or terrorist activity.
The FBI recently briefed several privacy advocates about the coming changes. Among them, Michael German, a former FBI agent who is now a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, argued it was unwise to further ease restrictions on agents’ power to use potentially intrusive techniques, especially if they lacked a firm reason to suspect someone of wrongdoing.
"Claiming additional authorities to investigate people only further raises the potential for abuse," German said, pointing to complaints about the bureau’s surveillance of domestic political advocacy groups and mosques and to an inspector general’s findings in 2007 that the FBI had improperly used "national security letters" to obtain information like people’s phone bills.
Valerie E. Caproni, the FBI general counsel, said the bureau had fixed the problems with the national security letters and had taken steps to make sure they would not recur. She also said the bureau — which does not need permission to alter its manual so long as the rules fit within broad guidelines issued by the attorney general — had carefully weighed the risks and the benefits of each change.
Some of the most notable changes apply to the lowest category of investigations, called an "assessment." The category, created in December 2008, allows agents to look into people and organizations "proactively" and without firm evidence for suspecting criminal or terrorist activity.
Under current rules, agents must open such an inquiry before they can search for information about a person in a commercial or law enforcement database. Under the new rules, agents will be allowed to search such databases without making a record about their decision.
Undercover? Wonder if they will be taught the shopping cart technich for the trash at FBI school? Wonder if this could result in trouble with the regulars? Well it doesn't matter to me Who goes through my trash, as long as they are neat about it. Database? They better not erase anything? Scrutinize? Stand in line?
Oh, just let the police always do what they want, any time. Rights? What rights? Besides, the ACLU and the left don't mind now that there is a democrap in the WH!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Oh, just let the police always do what they want, any time. Rights? What rights? Besides, the ACLU and the left don't mind now that there is a democrap in the WH!
You got it backwards again Graham... Read the original post... the ACLU is against easing restrictions on the FBI.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Wow, can't believe it, but I agree with the ACLU in this case. No additional invasion of privacy should be allowed.
Quoted Text
The FBI recently briefed several privacy advocates about the coming changes. Among them, Michael German, a former FBI agent who is now a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, argued it was unwise to further ease restrictions on agents’ power to use potentially intrusive techniques, especially if they lacked a firm reason to suspect someone of wrongdoing.
"Claiming additional authorities to investigate people only further raises the potential for abuse," German said, pointing to complaints about the bureau’s surveillance of domestic political advocacy groups and mosques and to an inspector general’s findings in 2007 that the FBI had improperly used "national security letters" to obtain information like people’s phone bills.
Wow, can't believe it, but I agree with the ACLU in this case. No additional invasion of privacy should be allowed.
Kevin, If you read the ACLU views instead of the Faux News version, you'd be surprised at how much you might agree with the ACLU agenda. Besides opposing this FBI "new powers" issue, ACLU: Criminal Law Reform The ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project's goal is to end punitive drug policies that cause the widespread violation of constitutional and human rights, as well as unprecedented levels of incarceration. Free Speech Freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and is guaranteed to all Americans. Since 1920, the ACLU has worked to preserve our freedom of speech. Religion & Belief The right to practice religion, or no religion at all, is among the most fundamental of the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Thats funny, the byline on the article says "The New York Times" - Not Fox News
Funny? The NY Times article states that the ACLU is opposed to this New FBI Powers... which is true. Much of what Fixed News promotes about the ACLU is distorted or presented in a negative view. Although Conservatives will disagree with many ACLU positions, they also support some ACLU issues as stated above.
Civil Liberties as guaranteed by the US Constitution... The ACLU advocates for all Americans.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Where is the democrap left when Obama institutes these things...."cricket chirping"
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
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