Forwarded From: phreak moi <hackerelitet_private> http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/15509.html FBI's Wish is Granted By Niall McKay 4:00 a.m. 9.Oct.98.PDT US lawmakers inserted a provision expanding the FBI's capacity to eavesdrop on American citizens into an intelligence budget bill, provoking sharp criticism from civil libertarians and a conservative member of congress. The so-called roving wiretap provision, an item on the FBI's controversial wish list, was added to the Intelligence Authorization Act, (HR3694) late Wednesday, said Representative Bob Barr (R-Georgia). "Under this new law, the federal government will have the ability to eavesdrop on each and every one of us," said Barr, a former federal prosecutor and ex-CIA analyst who is running for a third term. The provision, which allows law enforcement agencies to tap telephones used by or near targeted individuals rather than requiring authorization to tap specific phones, was rejected by Congress as part of the 1996 Anti-Terrorism bill. It was introduced by a joint committee charged with reconciling the House and Senate versions of the intelligence budget. "This is a sneaky attack on the privacy rights of Americans," Greg Nojeim, ACLU Legislative Counsel. Patrick Poole, deputy director of the Free Congress Foundation, called it a case of bill stuffing. Every year in the last few days of congress the FBI tries to sneak previously rejected legislation into must-pass legislation, including budgets, Poole said. "There is a flaw in the process that law makers take advantage of to pass controversial laws that do not stand up to open debate," said Poole. "This is how they managed to make the National Identity Cards Law." -o- Subscribe: mail majordomot_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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