FBI To Gain Expanded Hacking Powers as Senate Effort To Block Fails (reuters.com)

A last-ditch effort in the Senate to block or delay rule changes that would expand the U.S. government's hacking powers failed Wednesday, despite concerns the changes would jeopardize the privacy rights of innocent Americans and risk possible abuse by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Reuters adds: Democratic Senator Ron Wyden attempted three times to delay the changes which, will take effect on Thursday and allow U.S. judges will be able to issue search warrants that give the FBI the authority to remotely access computers in any jurisdiction, potentially even overseas. His efforts were blocked by Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the Senate's second-ranking Republican. The changes will allow judges to issue warrants in cases when a suspect uses anonymizing technology to conceal the location of his or her computer or for an investigation into a network of hacked or infected computers, such as a botnet.

Comments

Pay attention.

[PopeRatzo]

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden attempted three times to delay the changes which, will take effect on Thursday and allow U.S. judges will be able to issue search warrants that give the FBI the authority to remotely access computers in any jurisdiction, potentially even overseas. His efforts were blocked by Senator John Cornyn of Texas,

Bear this in mind: A Democrat tried to block the FBI from hacking any computer anywhere and a Republican tried to stop it.

And yes, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has been opposing this snooping since he entered the Senate in 1996, so no, it doesn't have anything to do with Donald Trump or President Obama.

Re:Pay attention.

[Anonymous Coward]

Bear this in mind. A Democrat did this with an incoming Republican President.

NOT when it was an incoming Democrat President.

But then I suppose Pope Ratzo has selective recall and forgets that Pelosi campaigned on repealing the Patriot Act in 2006 if they won the house, then in 2008 if they won the Presidency. Then EXTENDED the sunset provisions!

Re:Pay attention.

[Anonymous Coward]

Because they will always overreach, and this gives them the justification and opportunity to overreach. Judges are mostly older, ignorant of technology, and for the most part blissfully ignorant in regards to the constitutional protection of information as it applies to the 21st century. This expansion of powers should be immediately repealed. We need to reform information technology laws in a way that is based on rational understanding of Constitutional rights. It might mean that private data is unobtainable without permission from those whose information is being requested - because encryption is available that cannot be broken. Faced with that fact, reform is needed.

In a world where judges equate green text on a black screen as an indicator of "hacking" , there is no way in hell this law can be reasonably enacted. The government should be able to investigate you with a warrant. In a world with encryption, that means that you cannot possibly enforce criminalization of information, unless you cripple or outlaw encryption itself.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Your biometrics? That's your person. Data? That's your papers. Effects? That's your digital devices. All of these things are poorly understood by the public in general and government officials in particular. This law has no concept of specificity in regards to the person, place, or thing being seized. It's a pretty clearcut fucking amendment in the constitution, and I'm sickened by the contortions these power hungry morons go through to justify bypassing it.

You can't get a warrant to go fishing. The fundamental outcome of this law is the ability of the FBI to go trawling on a vast scale. Just look at every instance ever where any government has had the opportunity to go too far. They never, ever hold back. and are rarely held accountable.

You might ask if I'm not doing anything wrong, then what do I have to hide? If I'm not doing anything wrong, the government has no right to peruse my data. I have every right to hide that information.

Encryption is inherently an asymmetric projection of power over personal information, and it terrifies these people.

Take Note

[Fire_Wraith]

Take note of who voted for, and against, this.

I haven't seen a posting yet of the entire list, but in addition to the two named in the summary, Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and Steve Maines (R-Montana) are also noted in TFA as voicing opposition.

Re:Ban Encryption

[RhettLivingston]

I'd give you a +1 "funny", but, in the current environment, there are a large number of readers who are likely saying "exactly!"

And that is how history repeats itself.

Just Grant My Damned Warrant

[tomkost]

Yes, this is a big privacy blow. Probably the biggest in quite some time. Maybe the largest since the Patriot Act. And yes, there will be little outcry because most people don't even know or care what this means. But what will no doubt happen is the fed will shop around until they find the judge who grant them every warrant they want. Which they will no doubt find several if not more. This should be called, "Just Grant My Damned Warrant"

Re:Ban Encryption

[RhettLivingston]

And the sad thing is, I don't doubt it. Every time I post something on the internet today that speaks or even just jokes against the continuance of this fear-based drive to give more power to the establishment, I hesitate to press "submit". I have canceled more things than I've submitted for that exact reason.