From the Washington Post: "Federal agents may take a traveler's laptop computer or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued a policy dated July 16, 2008: Policy Regarding Border Search of Information.
Senator Russ Feingold issued a press release on the issue and referenced a June 25, 2008, hearing on "Laptop Searches and Other Violations of Privacy Faced by Americans Returning from Overseas Travel." The hearing was held by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights, and the hearing webpage includes prepared testimony from witnesses and an archived webcast of the hearing.
Source: Nakashima, E. (1 Aug. 2008). "Travelers' Laptops May Be Detained At Border: No Suspicion Required Under DHS Policies." Washington Post. A01.
Showing posts with label privacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label privacy. Show all posts
Friday, August 01, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
FISA Amendments Bill
From the Washington Post: "The Senate easily approved legislation to overhaul government eavesdropping rules in terrorism and espionage cases and effectively granted immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in a secret domestic spying program, ending a contentious debate that has raged for more than two years."
Yesterday in the Senate, three amendments to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 were rejected. The amendments--S.AMDT.5059, S.AMDT.5064, and S.AMDT.5066--included language removing or restricting immunity for telecommunications companies that provided records to the federal government for intelligence purposes. Montana Senators Baucus and Tester voted for the amendments. Looking at how the Presidential nominees voted, Senator Obama voted for the amendments and Senator McCain did not vote on the amendments.
Ultimately, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, H.R. 6304, was passed without amendment with Senate roll call vote 168 (the House passed the bill on June 20, 2008, with roll call vote 437). Of the Montana delegation to Congress, Congressman Rehberg and Senator Baucus voted for the bill, and Senator Tester voted against it. Senator Obama voted for the bill and Senator McCain did not vote on the bill.
The President signed the bill into law today and issued a statement upon signing. The version of the bill that was signed into law is available as a text or PDF file.
Source: Murray, S. (10 July 2008). "Obama Joins Fellow Senators in Passing New Wiretapping Measure." Washington Post. A06.
Yesterday in the Senate, three amendments to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 were rejected. The amendments--S.AMDT.5059, S.AMDT.5064, and S.AMDT.5066--included language removing or restricting immunity for telecommunications companies that provided records to the federal government for intelligence purposes. Montana Senators Baucus and Tester voted for the amendments. Looking at how the Presidential nominees voted, Senator Obama voted for the amendments and Senator McCain did not vote on the amendments.
Ultimately, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, H.R. 6304, was passed without amendment with Senate roll call vote 168 (the House passed the bill on June 20, 2008, with roll call vote 437). Of the Montana delegation to Congress, Congressman Rehberg and Senator Baucus voted for the bill, and Senator Tester voted against it. Senator Obama voted for the bill and Senator McCain did not vote on the bill.
The President signed the bill into law today and issued a statement upon signing. The version of the bill that was signed into law is available as a text or PDF file.
Source: Murray, S. (10 July 2008). "Obama Joins Fellow Senators in Passing New Wiretapping Measure." Washington Post. A06.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Mayfield v. U.S.A.
From the Washington Post: "In a case brought by a Portland man who was wrongly detained as a terrorism suspect in 2004, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the Patriot Act violates the Constitution because it 'permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment.'"
The U.S. District Court of Oregon has the opinion in the Brandon Mayfield v. U.S.A. case.
Source: Eggen, D. (27 Sept. 2007). "Patriot Act Provisions Voided: Judge Rules Law Gives Executive Branch Too Much Power." Washington Post. A02.
The U.S. District Court of Oregon has the opinion in the Brandon Mayfield v. U.S.A. case.
Source: Eggen, D. (27 Sept. 2007). "Patriot Act Provisions Voided: Judge Rules Law Gives Executive Branch Too Much Power." Washington Post. A02.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
GAO Report on Passenger Screening
From the Missoulian: "The Homeland Security Department is breaking the law by not telling the public exactly how personal information is used to screen international travelers, including Americans, congressional investigators said Wednesday."
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on passenger screening yesterday: "Aviation Security: Efforts to Strengthen International Passenger Prescreening are Under Way, but Planning and Implementation Issues Remain." The full report and a summary report are available on the GAO site.
Source: Kerr, Jennifer C. "GAO: Homeland Security breaking privacy laws." Missoulian May 17, 2007. A4.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on passenger screening yesterday: "Aviation Security: Efforts to Strengthen International Passenger Prescreening are Under Way, but Planning and Implementation Issues Remain." The full report and a summary report are available on the GAO site.
Source: Kerr, Jennifer C. "GAO: Homeland Security breaking privacy laws." Missoulian May 17, 2007. A4.
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