AfterDawn: Tech news

New Senate bill lets government read your emails without warrant

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Nov 2012 9:00 User comments (22)

New Senate bill lets government read your emails without warrant

In a slap to the face of privacy, a new Senate proposal will let government agencies read your emails without warrant.
A vote on the bill, which was recently re-written by Patrick Leahy, the influential Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, is set for next week.

Cnet has pinpointed all the new changes to the bill:

* Grants warrantless access to Americans' electronic correspondence to over 22 federal agencies. Only a subpoena is required, not a search warrant signed by a judge based on probable cause.
*Permits state and local law enforcement to warrantlessly access Americans' correspondence stored on systems not offered "to the public," including university networks.
* Authorizes any law enforcement agency to access accounts without a warrant -- or subsequent court review -- if they claim "emergency" situations exist.
* Says providers "shall notify" law enforcement in advance of any plans to tell their customers that they've been the target of a warrant, order, or subpoena.
* Delays notification of customers whose accounts have been accessed from 3 days to "10 business days." This notification can be postponed by up to 360 days.




Emails are not the only "electronic correspondence," however. The new bill will allow the agencies to access your Google Docs files, Facebook posts and picture, Twitter direct messages (and private feed posts), as well. As you can see from the points, the agencies will no longer need probable cause, warrants and they don't even need to tell the account holder until 10 business days later.

You can view the list of agencies here, that would have access if this bill is to pass.

We will keep you updated.

Previous Next  

22 user comments

120.11.2012 21:52

BULLSHIT. That's what I say. Why don't you just come on over and watch me jerk off?!?

220.11.2012 22:00

Originally posted by ivymike:
Why don't you just come on over and watch me jerk off?!?

+1
end of security and privacy, what more could a govt. offer?

320.11.2012 23:25

Like they haven't been doing it all along.

421.11.2012 05:11

Originally posted by ivymike:
BULLSHIT. That's what I say. Why don't you just come on over and watch me jerk off?!?
with a warrent they could probably do that and in time they probably wont even need a warrent .

521.11.2012 06:20

The only thing this will accomplish is to drive the actual targets of their fishing trips...er..."investigations", to use widely available encryption software to hide their communications exchange.

621.11.2012 08:09

Didn't the government make a big thing out of the fact that China was going exactly this just a few months ago? Oh yeah...we were always at war with Eurasia.

721.11.2012 09:35

This is just sad... I used to think these guys were just so far out of touch with technology they didn't have a clue what they were doing. Now I fear either I was right and they really have no concept that this is the same as opening peoples physical mail. Or I was wrong and they've been playing dumb, just to see what they can get away with.

821.11.2012 09:44

Our open and free society now means the U.S. Nazi law enforcement types can now open your email and soon your front door and walk right in unannounced. "Your papers please!"

921.11.2012 13:40

Originally posted by Qliphah:
This is just sad... I used to think these guys were just so far out of touch with technology they didn't have a clue what they were doing. Now I fear either I was right and they really have no concept that this is the same as opening peoples physical mail. Or I was wrong and they've been playing dumb, just to see what they can get away with.
pretty sure customs can open your physical mail and reseal it without your knowlegde anyway before it gets delivered to.

1021.11.2012 14:08

Originally posted by xboxdvl2:
pretty sure customs can open your physical mail and reseal it without your knowlegde anyway before it gets delivered to.

Customs is international, and without probable cause it still isn't legal. But never the less mail traveling only within the states is different, and is expected to be private between 2 parties, without a warrant and more than a year(!) to even notify the effected this is just pure hubris.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 21 Nov 2012 @ 2:09

1121.11.2012 22:16

Originally posted by Qliphah:
Originally posted by xboxdvl2:
pretty sure customs can open your physical mail and reseal it without your knowlegde anyway before it gets delivered to.

Customs is international, and without probable cause it still isn't legal. But never the less mail traveling only within the states is different, and is expected to be private between 2 parties, without a warrant and more than a year(!) to even notify the effected this is just pure hubris.
That's the beauty of new technologies...while any logical person (or judge) sees email as being nothing more than a new version of paper mail, it is different, and thus easier for the fascists to attack with minimal legal precedent against them.

1222.11.2012 12:13

Well, the Senate panel retracted this bill a few hours afterwards and it never was acted on, but the verdict is still going to have to be passed very soon, so who knows what will happen...

1322.11.2012 17:15

Fuck You govt!. But we the people of the united states of america, CANT read the govt emails, there the ones that are corrupt and need to be watched!!!

I hate america and i live here. its a trash heap going down the shitter. more and more of the govt is more and more corrupt.

mine as well watch me take a fucking shit while your at it.

1422.11.2012 21:39

Originally posted by 1nsan3:
Fuck You govt!. But we the people of the united states of america, CANT read the govt emails, there the ones that are corrupt and need to be watched!!!

I hate america and i live here. its a trash heap going down the shitter. more and more of the govt is more and more corrupt.

mine as well watch me take a fucking shit while your at it.
Well, we actually can read a lot of their emails and documents...stuff that shows clear evidence of very serious crimes...not that anyone is being charged for any of the things that they clearly did. As for the whistleblower who released more of these than anyone else? He is being tried for treason.

1523.11.2012 01:29

How come the American People were not informed to have say so in this matter? Fuck National Security, this is Invasion of Privacy, and this violates our Constitutional Rights. Notice to all Law agencies... you fuck heads work for us Americans, guess you don't want a job, I guess it's time to "let them go"... further more "WE THE PEOPLE" out number you, and yes many Americans are pissed off that the Sand Rat OBAMA is in office letting INGNORANT PEOPLE WORKING FOR HIM TO TURN AMERICA INTO SHARIA,ANTI SOCIALIST, COMUNISTIC, GOVERMENT INDUCED COUNTRY! If the government don't like what I say, fuckem, and bring your azz on! I'm A TRUE BORN AMERICAN..... not some fake, like what's in the White House!!

1623.11.2012 01:34

Originally posted by Semperfipal:
Our open and free society now means the U.S. Nazi law enforcement types can now open your email and soon your front door and walk right in unannounced. "Your papers please!"
Just reply with LEAD!!! They come in my front door, they will meet there maker!

1723.11.2012 01:35

if american or any country wants to pass a new law or bill they dont actually have to run it by the public.they have to run it through the proper channels and the public isnt one of them channels.

1823.11.2012 10:23

sure they already do this and seeing what they can get away with now. America is dominated by sleeping zombies. Most will agree with what any public offical tells them is good for them. You have been dumbed down now eat the bowl of crap.

1923.11.2012 21:52

I really have no sympathy for Facebook and/or Twitter users. No-one told you to post all of those 'personal' details about yourselves, and hundreds of photos. You people asked for attention, now you're getting exactly what you asked for and are now complaining??? Go update your Facebook status about this, if you haven't done so already.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 23 Nov 2012 @ 9:53

2023.11.2012 22:03

Facebook is a monster. I had no idea photobucket pictures where being posted on my FB news feed till I logged on. I posted about 20 photos over a 2 week period. I hate FB. If it was not for family I would be off that train wreck. Then again, its not like any of them ever send anything besides game invites, or look at the pics and videos of my kids anyways. maybe I should ditch it.

2124.11.2012 20:55

Time to move all e-mail servers off-shore. Problem solved.

2225.11.2012 13:33

Originally posted by john_swan:
Time to move all e-mail servers off-shore. Problem solved.
even offshore america will still moniter it legal or not.all that will do is limit legal action they can take against someone based on email evidence.

Comments have been disabled for this article.

News archive