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

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

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.

4 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. msmash/manish by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Who is msmash/manish? He/she seems to have an agenda?

  2. Re:Pay attention. by DickBreath · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This allows the government to hack AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF COMPUTERS if they have a rubber stampped warrant from a judge who has no understanding of what they are signing.

    But hey, if the government says they need something, then they should probably get it.

    And there is this . . .

    Meesa thinks a weesa should give the chancellor emergency powers. -- Jar Jar Binks

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  3. Re:Pay attention. by harrkev · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This allows the government to hack AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF COMPUTERS if they have a rubber stampped warrant from a judge who has no understanding of what they are signing.

    I would assume that a judge would have some common sense. A warrant might say "All computers own by XXX person" or "all computers at XXX location." I doubt that a judge will sign a warrant for "all computers in Utah."

    What is the alternative? "Whoops, we got a warrant to search five computers, but all of the illegal stuff is on computer #6, so we have to let this criminal go?"

    Judges had to go through law school -- they are generally not stupid. I bet that most of them even own a computer or two.

    --
    "-1 Troll" is the apparently the same as "-1 I disagree with you."
  4. Did you say "current environment"? by mi · · Score: 1, Interesting

    in the current environment, there are a large number of readers who are likely saying "exactly!"

    You, guys, wanted the President to be a dictator as far back as 2010! So he could "do a lot of things quickly".

    And that is how history repeats itself.

    The law being discussed will be signed by Obama. Whom you elected.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.