Data Digger Arms Pols With Dirt on Voters

(NEWSER) - Big Brother alert: A data-mining system set up by the FBI ostensibly to catch terrorists is quickly growing into a database that tracks the comings and goings of ordinary citizens. The database has tens of thousands of records from private corporations, including some Wyndham hotel reservations, Avis car rentals, and even Sears credit card transactions, according to declassified documents obtained by Wired. The agency has requested access to more sources, including the change-of-address database and Social Security numbers. More»

Link data of local police agencies for instantaneous search

(NEWSER) - Law enforcement agencies all over the country are building a new information "dragnet" that will dramatically boost data-sharing, the Washington Post reports. This month the Justice Department will begin hooking up local and county police forces to the new federal National Data Exchange, creating a "one-stop-shop" that will let investigators search millions of records in seconds and make previously unsuspected connections. More»

90 million numbers taken offline after consumers freaked out

(NEWSER) - Data company Intelius scoured business records and other sources and managed to compile around half the cellphone numbers in America, MSNBC reports. When it put those 90 million numbers online, available to anybody paying a $15 fee, people were outraged. Consumers were shocked to find their private cellphone numbers were easily accessible, and a wireless phone company threatened to sue. More»

Legalizes tapping calls and emails in and out of US without warrant

(NEWSER) - President Bush signed into law yesterday measures significantly expanding the government's authority to eavesdrop on millions of phone calls and e-mails going in and out of the US without warrants. The law, passed by Congress after bruising battles, effectively legalizes secret surveillance being conducted by a controversial National Security Agency eavesdropping program, the New York Times reports. More»

White House spying powers expanded, despite Democrats' opposition

(NEWSER) - A bill set to expand the government's warrantless spying program cleared the House last night by a 227-183 vote, the Washington Post reports. Many Democrats put aside profound reservations, yielding to pressure from the White House and fearing being branded "weak on terror" as the campaign heats up this fall. More»