FBI sparks privacy fears as agents get more power to search your household trash

[kpete]

Source: The Daily Mail


FBI sparks privacy fears as agents get more power to search your household trash
By MARK DUELL
Last updated at 2:19 PM on 13th June 2011


Around 14,000 agents are getting more powers to search databases, examine household trash and use surveillance teams to scrutinise targets.

But the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s move to give agents more scope to watch people of interest has been criticised by privacy lawyers.


Former FBI agent Michael German, now an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, said it could make it harder to stop inappropriate use.

‘Claiming additional authorities to investigate people only further raises the potential for abuse,’ he told the New York Times.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003034/FBI-sparks-privacy-concerns-gives-agents-power-search-trash.html#ixzz1PAIAwyic

[SpiralHawk]

1. "All your dirty diapers are belong to us." - FBI

"Oh shit." - Sen. David Vitter (R)

[Arctic Dave]

2. "Former FBI agent Michael German, now an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer"

Well this sentence does'nt give me the warm fuzzies.

[hootinholler]

8. Don't worry

He's not THE Agent Mike ;)

Actually, I kind of think it will be a plus, insider knowledge and all that.

-Hoot

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. Brave new World

I honestly never thought I would live to see a time when we really became a police state. But I think we have just about become one. Or, at least, we are really not that far away from it.

Huge corporations run the show and everyone just tows the line.

[bertman]

4. We ARE a police state. Already.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. Sure seems that way some days.

I know I go way out of my way to stay completely away from the police.

[defendandprotect]

9. +1

[crikkett]

6. Interesting news to be reported by a UK paper. Also, which databases can the FBI

just go searching without a warrant? Is this gonna be like "Criminal Minds" where a chick in a windowless room can just go rooting through your prescription records?

That could be very important.

[felix_numinous]

7. The jails aren't full enough

of average peaceful citizens, meanwhile trillions go missing with no consequences!! Aaaaauuuugh!!!

Wow these people have literally hit the bottom of the barrel. This is abuse and harassment.

[Corruption Winz]

10. Well, the potential for the abuse of power has always been there..

The difference is that now, some of those actions, will be legal.

[earcandle]

11. Is this funded by my tax dollars? We need jobs more than we need trash pickers.

[davsand]

12. I feel SORRY for whoever gets stuck with the job of searching through my trash.

I gotta wonder just who they pissed off...



If I clean out the fridge it can be a regular hazardous waste site. If it is just an average trash day then it will have goodies like used cat litter, kleenex, various female personal type items, old coffee grounds, banana peels--and you do not want to be there if I've made fish or seafood in the prior day or two...

I have also said for a long time that I feel really sorry for anybody that has to listen to any wiretaps in my house or on my phone. Do they REALLY want to hear about my mom's bathroom issues or listen to my daughter talk about her complexion issues and the super CUTE boy that she saw on Facebook that afternoon? REALLY???


There has GOT to be an easier way for somebody to earn a living!



Laura

[SpankMe]

13. They're engaging in doublespeak

From: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43376181/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/

"But she {Valerie Caproni, FBI general counsel} rejected arguments that the F.B.I. should focus only on investigations that begin with a firm reason for suspecting wrongdoing."

I thought law enforcement had to have a firm reason for suspecting wrongdoing before they could conduct surveillance? And, then, they'd have to get warrants for that surveillance? I thought that fishing expeditions were banned by common law and by the 4th amendment?

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

What am I missing, here?

[librechik]

14. yes, it's called "probable cause" but the highest law enforcement officials

(MICHAEL HAYDEN)deny that prharase exists in the fourth amendment. hayden got in a heated argument with a reporter who pointed out the probably cause clause, and hayden just laughed and mocj=ked him and said he was in a position to know better. That's where we are today.

[boppers]

18. "reasonable expectation of privacy". is what you're missing.

http://supreme.justia.com/us/486/35/case.html

"1. The Fourth Amendment does not prohibit the warrantless search and seizure of garbage left for collection outside the curtilage of a home."

[cstanleytech]

15. Would someone please explain what

major "OMG this is new item here at x is going to far" I am missing?
(and yes I am aware of the national security letters part in the article but their use and abuse isnt new news)

[sarcasmo]

16. Guess a shredder just won't do, looks like I have to burn what I shred now.

[boppers]

17. Wow, the UK is behind the times.

Trash has been fair game for over 20 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_v._Greenwood