Warrantless Access to Internet searches bill fails, but just for now

(Before It's News)

The wolf is barking at our heels thanks this time to John McCain of “build the dang fence” fame that meant nothing. “Warrantless access.” That’s what the government has in mind. Due Process means nothing as well. The Senate fell two votes short, but buddy McConnell promises to bring this up once more after a few more arms are broken over the summer. Votes are at the bottom of the post. All of this information stored no doubt in the Utah Data Center. Here tis:

Agents would be able to access the information using national security letters — a kind of administrative subpoena that does not require a court order and would likely bar an Internet provider from telling its customers that their communication was searched. Currently, the FBI must get a warrant to obtain the data.

An amendment designed to allow the government warrantless access to internet browsing histories has been narrowly defeated in the Senate.

“Due process ought to apply as it relates to guns, but due process wouldn’t apply as it relates to the internet activity of millions of Americans,” said Wyden.

The amendment fell two votes short of the required 60 votes to advance.

But the effort is far from dead. Majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who switched his vote at the last minute, submitted a motion to reconsider the vote following the defeat.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the amendment as an add-on to the commerce, justice, and science appropriations bill earlier this week. McCain said in a statement on Monday that the amendment would “track lone wolves” in the wake of the Orlando massacre, in which Omar Mateen, who authorities say radicalized himself online, killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in the Florida city.

In other words, the FBI will be able to tell where and when a user logged in and out of a website, including social media sites.

More ZD Net

Filed under: Government Tagged: Due Process, FBI, NSA, Spying, Utah data center, Warrantless searches

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