Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Carriers mum on DoJ report that FBI abused powers - Network World Three carriers would not discuss the U.S. Department of Justice findings that the FBI overstepped its authority in accessing private phone records in investigations of terrorism or espionage suspects under the Patriot Act.  Neither AT&T, Verizon nor Qwest would comment on the matter in which a Justice Department audit released Friday determined the FBI, without a court order, improperly exercised Patriot Act powers to obtain phone, credit and Internet records of suspected terrorists and spies. 4:57:01 PM

FBI Data Demands Lack Adequate Checks and Balances. FBI Data Demands Lack Adequate Checks and Balances. A report by the Department of Justice Inspector General finds numerous failures of internal processes for FBI issuance of so-called National Security Letters, which are used to compel disclosure of sensitive financial, credit and communications records. The rules limiting the circumstances under which NSLs can be issued were weakened by the PATRIOT Act. Tighter internal controls announced by DOJ and FBI in response to the IG report, while welcome, will not cure the NSLs' fundamental flaw: giving FBI agents power to compel disclosure of private information without judicial approval. [Center for Democracy and Technology] 4:08:45 PM

© Copyright 2007 Paul Hardwick. Last update: 3/19/07; 12:37:49 AM.