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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.

6 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Ban Encryption by DickBreath · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can the government just ban encryption already?

    And do we really need HTTPS ?

    The FBI's hacking would be easier if all systems were required to have a special port with a telnetd root shell running, exclusively for the FBI's use, of course.

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    1. Re:Ban Encryption by RhettLivingston · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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.

  2. Pay attention. by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Pay attention. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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!

    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. Just Grant My Damned Warrant by tomkost · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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"