DOJ Requests More Power To Hack Remote Computers

An anonymous reader writes "The U.S. Department of Justice says it needs greater authority to hack remote computers in the course of an investigation. The agency reasons that criminal operations involving computers are become more complicated, and argues that its own capabilities need to scale up to match them. An ACLU attorney said, 'By expanding federal law enforcement's power to secretly exploit "zero-day"' vulnerabilities in software and Internet platforms, the proposal threatens to weaken Internet security for all of us.' This is particularly relevant in the wake of Heartbleed — it's been unclear whether the U.S. government knew about it before everyone else did. This request suggests that the DOJ, at least, did not abuse it — but it sure looks like they would've wanted to. You can read their request starting on page 499 of this committee meeting schedule."

Comments

Re:President McCain strikes again!

[Kohath]

Al Gore? Is that you?

Illegal

[casca69]

Bluntly, if they would prosecute me for doing it, then they better damn well have a warrant and judicial oversight.
Otherwise, it's breaking the law, and prosecution ensues.

Re:Illegal

[Anonymous Coward]

You are aware that the DoJ is a branch of government, right?
When was the last time any branch was tried for doing something illegal?

Let them have it

[fustakrakich]

Since they're doing it anyway (surely you're not going to believe their denials still, are you?), let it be public and provide incentive to build more resistant electronics.

Re:Let them have it = Holder has it!

[BoRegardless]

Since our Atty General Mr. Holder, says he can choose which laws to obey, then there are no laws, no rules, except what he chooses to do.

Remove computers can be anywhere ...

[Alain Williams]

including other countries; I did not notice anything in the article restricting this to computers in the USA. Other countries might not agree with the USA DOJ allowing computers in their countries to be cracked -- thus the USA cops/investigators will be conducting criminal acts in other countries -- how does that make them different from what the USA wanted to grab Gary McKinnon for ?

Clear as day

[Charliemopps]

So let me get this strait. The DOJ's argument is: "If we leave the door locked, how are we supposed to catch burglars?"

No!

[Hamsterdan]

If you (or myself) do the same thing, it's illegal, and we're gonna be prosecuted. The law is the same for everyone (at least it should be). I'm sick & tired of that shit. Police installing cameras (without warrant) to spy on people, inside their homes, warrantless wiretapping and every other thing that is *ILLEGAL* for the common people.

If it's illegal for me to do it, it's illegal for them to do it. And yes, I hope it blows up in their faces.