Category Archives: National Government

Senate bill rewrite lets feds read your e-mail without warrants

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Proposed law scheduled for a vote next week originally increased Americans’ e-mail privacy. Then law enforcement complained. Now it increases government access to e-mail and other digital files.

A Senate proposal touted as protecting Americans’ e-mail privacy has been quietly rewritten, giving government agencies more surveillance power than they possess under current law.

CNET has learned that Patrick Leahy, the influential Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, has dramatically reshaped his legislation in response to law enforcement concerns. A vote on his bill, which now authorizes warrantless access to Americans’ e-mail, is scheduled for next week.

Leahy’s rewritten bill would allow more than 22 agencies — including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Communications Commission — to access Americans’ e-mail, Google Docs files, Facebook wall posts, and Twitter direct messages without a search warrant. It also would give the FBI and Homeland Security more authority, in some circumstances, to gain full access to Internet accounts without notifying either the owner or a judge.

It’s an abrupt departure from Leahy’s earlier approach, which required police to obtain a search warrant backed by probable cause before they could read the contents of e-mail or other communications. The Vermont Democrat boasted last year that his bill “provides enhanced privacy protections for American consumers by… requiring that the government obtain a search warrant.”

Leahy had planned a vote on an earlier version of his bill, designed to update a pair of 1980s-vintage surveillance laws, in late September. But after law enforcement groups including the National District Attorneys’ Association and the National Sheriffs’ Association organizations objected to the legislation and asked him to “reconsider acting” on it, Leahy pushed back the vote and reworked the bill as a package of amendments to be offered next Thursday.

Read more at CNET

Barrack Obama declares World Freedom Day

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Barrack Obama issued a proclamation declaring today as World Freedom Day. November 9, 1989 was the date in which the Berlin Wall began to be torn down during the administration of President Ronald Reagan.

“Today, we commemorate the collapse of the Iron Curtain and celebrate the freedom that grew in its place. We also remember that for many, the walls of oppression still stand, and the human rights we honor today are still beyond reach,” the proclamation reads.

“People around the world continue to demand fundamental liberties they are denied — freedom to express themselves, live their faith, assemble without fear, and choose their leaders freely and fairly.”

He encourages citizens “…to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, reaffirming our dedication to freedom and democracy.”

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House preparing for mass death in US

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WASHINGTON D.C.—California representative Laura Richardson has submitted H.R. 6566—the Mass Fatality Planning and Religious Considerations Act—to prepare for mass deaths in the US including manmade and terrorist attacks. Ms. Richardson states that the act is pursuant to the powers of Congress under Article I, Section 8, Clauses 11 and 182 of the United States Constitution.

Govtrack.us estimates a 1% chance of passage of the legislation. The bill has no cosponsors.

According to the legislation, the government finds:

(1) Emergency preparedness often plans for how to prepare and provide for survivors of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, but fails to plan for how to prepare for and respond to mass fatalities that result from such an incident.

(2) Funeral homes, cemeteries, and mortuaries could be overwhelmed should mass fatalities arise from a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster.

(3) Different religions have different customs surrounding death; for example, the Jewish and Muslim religions call for burial of the deceased not later than 48 hours after death.

The act would amend Section 504 of the Homeland Security Act (6 U.S.C. 314) by adding:

`(c) Preparedness for Mass Fatalities- In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall provide guidance to and coordinate with appropriate individuals, including representatives from different communities, private sector businesses, non-profit organizations, and religious organizations, to prepare for and respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster that results in mass fatalities.’.

Section 314 of Title 6 deals with the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA. The Administrator refers to the administrator of FEMA.

Many web sites across the Internet are linking this legislation with the high volume purchase of ammunition by government agencies.

1. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

2. To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.