Loose FBI Rules Raise Privacy Fears

Revised legislation violates separation of powers, 1st Amendment

(NEWSER) - The Patriot Act violates the Constitution by allowing unreasonable searches and seizures, violating separation of powers, and denying free speech, a federal judge ruled today in striking down parts of the revised legislation. Judge Victor Marrero said investigators must obtain court approval before ordering ISPs and phone companies to turn over confidential information without notifying customers, the AP reports. More»

Training materials are playing into terrorists' hands, say former agents

(NEWSER) - A shocking Wired exposé reveals that FBI counterterrorism agents are taught that "mainstream" American Muslims are likely to sympathize with terrorists, and that more "devout" Muslims are more likely to be "violent." The magazine acquired FBI training materials, some from as recently as March, which also say that the Prophet Mohammed is a "cult leader," that Muslims give to charity as a means of "funding ... combat," and that pious Muslims have remained aggressive from 610 AD onward, while Jews and Christians gradually became "non-violent." More»

Public fine with surveillance cameras, not fine with email snooping

(NEWSER) - Americans are willing to give up some privacy and freedoms for security—but not others. A new AP poll has charted just which freedoms Americans are partial to. For example:

• 71% are OK with surveillance cameras in public places
• 58% are fine with full-body scans and pat-downs at the airport
• 47% favor a national ID card
• 35% approve of ethnic or racial profiling at the airport
• 30% support monitoring emails without a warrant
• 25% back eavesdropping on domestic phone calls without a warrant

Thousands deemed 'suspicious' appear on giant database: WaPo probe

(NEWSER) - Aiming to fight home-grown terrorism, the US is linking local, state, FBI, and military resources to gather information about American citizens: It’s “the largest and most technologically sophisticated” domestic intelligence system the country has ever assembled, write Dana Priest and William Arkin after a Washington Post investigation that’s spanned several months, 100 interviews, and some 1,000 documents. More»

'Biometrics' a big part of immigration reform proposal

(NEWSER) - Now it's the Democrats' turn to be accused of trying to violate civil liberties in the name of immigration reform. A crucial part of their plan calls for what amounts to a high-tech national ID card. It would have a "biometrics" component—namely fingerprints—and every worker would need one within 6 years, reports the Hill . Hello, Orwell, say critics. More»