Audit Finds FBI Abused Patriot Act

happyslayer writes to mention that according to Yahoo! News a recent audit shows that the FBI has improperly and in some cases illegally utilized the Patriot Act to obtain information. "The audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine found that FBI agents sometimes demanded personal data on individuals without proper authorization. The 126-page audit also found the FBI improperly obtained telephone records in non-emergency circumstances. The audit blames agent error and shoddy record-keeping for the bulk of the problems and did not find any indication of criminal misconduct. Still, 'we believe the improper or illegal uses we found involve serious misuses of national security letter authorities,' the audit concludes."

Comments

Ha Ha stupid Americans

[Anonymous Coward]

As a citizen of the People's Republic of China, let me be the first to say this is just another example of what a hoax America's so-called "free democracy" is. What has it gotten you? Constatn surveillance by your own government, a ballooning national debt, an endless, unwinnable war in the middle east, and the withering contempt of all other nations of the world.

I'd bet my Party membership that any randomly chosen citzen of the PRC is happier, healthier, and more truly free than an citizen of the USA. You people are going to be sorry you didn't switch to Communism when you had the chance.

And now it's too late. At least you have NASCAR, ha ha.

Re:Ha Ha stupid Americans

[Anonymous Coward]

Run over & crushed any student protesters with tanks lately?

Re:Accountable?

[Kawolski]

In what way is he to be held accountable? He expects to keep his job, presumably also pay, pension, benefits, etc. Where is the accountability? He's going to have one sore wrist tomorrow. He might even get slapped twice!

Re:no surprise there

[Rob the Bold]

That's probably because that judge knows a load of bullshit when he hears it. I mean, seriously, he decided to search the trunk because he noticed an exhaust leak?!?! Give me a break.

There could've been deadly metal-burrowing acid moles in there. Those devils will dissolve the flesh right offa yer bones. That perp was a lucky S.O.B. that the cop was so observant.

Re:no surprise there

[Rude Turnip]

"That's probably because that judge knows a load of bullshit when he hears it."

The judge was probably pissed because his regular delivery didn't arrive :-)

Re:What are the chances...

[j-turkey]

In fact that's part of the PATRIOT act: You're not even allowed to find out if they've been abusing the act. Whistleblowing abuses of the PATRIOT act is a crime under the PATRIOT act.

The first rule of the USA PATRIOT act is that you do not talk about the USA PATRIOT act...

;)

Re:Accountable?

[Anonymous Coward]

In what way is he to be held accountable?

He has to go to rehab.

Re:And yesterday Captain America was shot to death

[Peter Trepan]

Don't drag Cheney into this. Yes, he was hunting again, but he was hundreds of miles away when Captain America was shot.

Re:What are the chances...

[StarfishOne]

Section 1984 of Chapter 15 of the US Code

One has to love all those tiny synchronicities that are floating by in this funny Universe.. ;)

Re:What are the chances...

[Digital Vomit]

When common citizens can get arrested and prosecuted in spite of ignorance of the law, then so can the enforcers of the law, the ones SPECIFICALLY in charge of enforcing and utilizing the law to safeguard the lives of the citizens.

You haven't been in a Western democracy for very long, have you?