Your National Security Letter, that is. Oops, I forgot that if you did get such a letter, you could not tell me, not today, not ever. In fact, you may not even know that you are the subject of such a letter.
What is a National Security Letter you ask? It's a letter that, under the activities approved by the Patriot Act, the FBI issues to collect private details about anybody, even if that person is not suspected of anything. It does not allow the Feds to eavesdrop or read your e-mail. But it does allow them to trace your activities so that they could learn where you work, how you spend your money, where and with whom you live now and in the past, what you buy on-line, how much you gamble, whether you use a pawn shop, what you invest in, what you search for and read on the web, who calls or e-mails you whether at home or work.
It's not a big deal for the FBI to 'authorize' the issuance of such a letter; they're doing it at the rate of 30,000+ a year now; pre 9/11 they may have issued 300 a year. They don't need a judge or grand jury to isue the letter; they simply ask their boss. And, once the information is obtained it need not be destroyed at the conclusion of an investigation, but the information discovered can be shared with "state, local and tribal governments" and for "appropriate private sector entities", which remain undefined.
Of course, this tool in the 'war on terror' is a valuable one. Problem is no one knows. No one in Justice, the FBI, Congress or the White House audits the use of these letters to determine their value in the 'war on terror' or any other criminal investigation.
Is this the kind of government we want?
1 comment:
I saw a piece on this on PBS News Hour. I cannot believe people are not more outraged about secret police doings.
Post a Comment