New FBI Operations Manual Increases Surveillance

betterunixthanunix writes "The New York Times is reporting that the new FBI operations manual suggests a broad increase in surveillance. Denoted the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, the manual officially lowers the bar of acceptability when it comes to engaging in surveillance activities, including allowing agents to perform such surveillance on people who are not suspected terrorists without opening an inquiry or officially recording their actions. The new manual also relaxes rules on administering lie detector tests, searching through a person's trash, and the use of teams to follow targeted individuals. It should be noted that these guidelines still fall within the general limits put in place by the attorney general."

Comments

No "firm reason" required!

[Thruen]

I like this line at the very end:

But she rejected arguments that the F.B.I. should focus only on investigations that begin with a firm reason for suspecting wrongdoing.

Is anyone else somewhat appalled that they don't need a "firm reason for suspecting wrongdoing" to waste time and money on an investigation? Add that to everything about this manual, and it kind of seems like the FBI is wasting enormous amounts of taxpayer money running around looking into random BS instead of focusing on serious issues. Even if we forget about the trampling of rights of innocent people here, and forget about them spending our money helping the MPAA/RIAA sue people, the mere fact that they are willing to investigate without a firm reason is bothersome from a "you-work-for-me-and-you're-wasting-time" perspective.

Re:4th?

[Plugh]

Fair questions. Different FSP members are likely to give you different answers as we all have different priorities. For me, the biggest wins are:

• Elected over 1 dozen FSP members to the State legislature
• Elected dozens of FSP members to local office all over the state (including myself, FWIW)
• Outright eliminated all knife laws in NH
• Passed a law forbidding NH from participating in the Real-ID program, or any de facto national ID that may follow therefrom
• Likely to pass a resolution this year asserting state sovereignty
• Passed laws reducing regulations on various businesses: contractors, home-schoolers
• Prevented any state income tax, sales tax, or seat belt law from passing, despite intense lobbying for such from other quarters
• Started libertarian TV shows, radio programs, and newspapers all over the state -- far more media saturation than in any other state

A lot more are listed over at http://www.ronpaulforums.com/forumdisplay.php?253-New-Hampshire