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FBI Can Inspect Bank Records w/o Court Orders

Posted by Cliff on from the a-solution-that-may-be-worse-than-the-disease dept.

AlexZander writes: "Thankfully, the so-called 'Patriot Act II' was discovered last year and the public outcry that ensued was enough to get the bill tossed out the window. One of the goals of that act, however, has made it into law under the radar of the community at large. However, on December 13th, President Bush signed Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (the relevant section is 374) into law, which among other things, grants the FBI the power to obtain financial information without a court order from a judge. It also expands the definition of 'financial information' to include car dealerships, jewelry stores, insurance companies, and other stretches of the definition of 'financial institution'. Wired News has the story here."

"The best parts about this is that the law prevents the business that gives up the information to the FBI from telling their customer about the request. Oh, that and the new law only requires a "national security letter" from a field agent stating that the information reqested is part of an investigation relevant to national security.

Yikes!"

3 of 984 comments (clear)

  1. Saturday, December 13th by Ricin · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Ladies and gentlemen, we got him!

  2. people get the gov't they deserve by kevin+lyda · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    bush has raised $170 million for his primary - where he's unopposed. and then under federal election law he can raise that money again in september when he's nominated (that's why the gop convention is so late this year - plus the convention will be free coverage).

    your only chance is dean but it seems like the dems are determined to eat their own. saw another dnc talking head abusing dean on fox news today.

    but it's likely bush will win, and the gop will extend its control of the house and senate. i expect a fillibuster-proof majority in the senate and maybe the house. america can look forward to economic panics ala argentina, further erosion of civil rights, more religious extremists on the bench, more war, more terrorist attacks, less jobs, more gov't and a flight of foreign capital.

    i'm sure i'll get marked as a troll, but if bush wins in '04, i suggest people bookmark this comment and see how prophetic it is in 2008.

    --
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  3. I just want to say by Cyno · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Haha!

    I told you so.

    Neener neener STFU .!..