“Unnecessary Powers: The Patriot Act already gives government too much power to spy on ordinary Americans, but things could get far worse. Congress is considering adding a broad new investigative power, known as the administrative subpoena, that would allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation to gain access to anyone’s financial, medical, employment and even library… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Patriot Act
Patriot Act Reauthorization Hearings Available From GPO
Now available from GPO Access: Serial No. 109-10, Reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act (80 pages, PDF). Serial No. 109-12, USA Patriot Act: A Review for the Purpose of Reauthorization (168 pages, PDF). Continue Reading
Hearing Chronology on Patriot Act
June 21, 2005 — Hearing Chronology of the USA Patriot Act – Hearings held by the House Committee on the Judiiciary (3 pages, PDF). Continue Reading
New Study Documents Law Enforcement Inquiries on Library Patron Data
From today’s New York Times, Libraries Say Yes, Officials Do Quiz Them About Users reports on a study, not yet released by the American Library Association (ALA), that documents law enforcement inquiries for information on library patrons’ reading materials. The article indicates that there have been “at least 200 formal and informal inquiries to libraries…… Continue Reading
New Bill to Permanently Authorize Patriot Act Provisions
S.1266, Title: An original bill to permanently authorize certain provisions of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, to reauthorize a provision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, to clarify certain definitions in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act… Continue Reading
Bipartisan Compromise on Patriot Act
“Today, a bipartisan working group of former senior government officials with expertise in homeland security, intelligence, law enforcement, and civil liberties delivered a set of recommendations for reauthorization of the Patriot Act to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The bipartisan group, co-convened by John Podesta, President of the Center for American Progress, and Richard Falkenrath, former… Continue Reading
President Promotes Renewal of Patriot Act
White House Press release: President Visits National Counterterrorism Center “I mean, not only are we sharing information here at home, we’re sharing information with our allies, with our coalition partners. See, terrorists are willing to strike at anybody who loves freedom, and our job is to protect free societies — the freest of all societies… Continue Reading
Debate Continues Behind Closed Doors on PATRIOT Act Extension
The Proposal to Reauthorize and Expand Parts of the USA PATRIOT Act: Why It’s Unnecessary and, In Some Respects, Dangerous, By Anita Ramastry. Patriot Act Extension Debated at Closed Congressional Meeting American Civil Liberties Union Testimony at an Oversight Hearing on the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001: Section 505 (National Security Letters) and Section 804… Continue Reading
Administration Challenges Decision on Access to ISP Subscriber Info
On May 30, AP reported: The Bush Administration wants to compel ISPs to turn over information about subscribers as part of its fight against terrorism. Related reference from September 29, 2004: Patriot Act Provision Struck Down by Federal Judge Continue Reading
Draft Copy of Bill to Reauthorize Certain PATRIOT Act Provisions
“On Thursday, May 26, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will consider in closed session a draft bill that would both renew and expand various USA PATRIOT Act powers. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has obtained a copy of the draft bill, along with the committee’s summary of it..” [Link] Draft of new PATRIOT Act… Continue Reading
Suburban Chicago Public Library To Install Fingerprint Scanners on Public PCs
As reported by the Chicago Tribune on May 20, 2005 (and cited in American Libraries Online, with another article in the Washington Post), this summer, the Naperville, Illinois public library will install biometric scanners on their 130 PCs with web access. Related article from UPI today, on an analysis of biometrics published in the May… Continue Reading
Markup of Patriot Act Behind Closed Doors May 19
From the ACLU press release: “The Senate Intelligence Committee announced today that it is rushing forward with a markup of Patriot Act reauthorization legislation Thursday, but that the session will be behind closed doors…Some of the most extreme parts of the Patriot Act are set to sunset, or expire, at the end of this year… Continue Reading
