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DOJ Already Monitoring Cable Internet Traffic

According to this Wired News article, the Justice Department is already using its new powers under the USA Patriot Act to obtain subscribers' identities and other information from cable operators without judicial oversight under Section 211 of the new legislation. Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff also says that the act has allowed police to obtain IP addresses of cable subscribers and has enabled DOJ to obtain court orders for ISP logs outside a court's traditional jurisdiction. The Senate Judiciary Committee has convened hearings to review the impact of the Bush administration's actions on civil liberties, but A.G. Ashcroft is not scheduled to appear until December 6. One wonders what effect the upcoming cable failure will have on government surveilance of the potentially criminal citizenry.

5 of 354 comments (clear)

  1. get some tissues by ZeekWatson · · Score: 2, Funny

    They will find out that there is a lot of porn on cable traffic.

  2. Criminals! by Jebediah21 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The people who don't have Internet connections are surely criminals. They must have something to hide, otherwise they would be gouged with outrageous prices and restrictions in order to be further monitored.

    *waves at DOJ*

    --

    Everytime you look at porn a devil gets their horns.
  3. Re:Change your IP address often... by alen · · Score: 3, Funny

    You will be branded a terrorist just for knowing this information. Everyone knows Americans are supposed to be stupid and not know anything except for sports. Why would anyone need to know how to spoof your ISP and the DoJ who want to watch you?

  4. While they're monitoring all that porn traffic... by mttlg · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...they might as well use the information they gather to set up a dating service. Think about it - the government spies on your every keystroke, but to make up for it they send the sexual partner(s) of your dreams to your door. How many people will still be complaining here after that. "Damn government helping me get laid... Oh well, gotta go, no time to bitch and moan about the complete erosion of civil liberties, I'm gonna get me some." It gives new meaning to the term "public relations..."

  5. Re:Tip of the Iceberg by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 3, Funny
    am now a left wing liberal who supports the NRA.

    Attention Citizen #3871209 (AKA timmy the large; AKA sonora sam; AKA pr0nSurfer34):

    Greetings.

    This message is to notify you that you have been placed on our domestic terrorism watch list for holding leftward leaning views while in the possession (or while considering the possession) of firearms. Be advised that your movement and messages may be monitored at any time and anything you may say or do could be admissible before a military tribunal at the discression of the Commander in Chief.

    Sincerely,

    General^WAttorney General Ashcroft

    --
    That is all.