Wednesday, August 31, 2005
U.S. Moves to Bolster Rights of Guantanamo Terror Defendants
The Wall Street Journal reports that under changes, to be announced by the Bush administration today, Guantanamo Bay defendants will gain additional rights to attend their trials and see evidence against them.
Patriot Act defense in homeless transit case gets boost from feds
AP reports on the status of a lawsuit brought by a homeless man after he was expelled from a New Jersey train station under the authority of the Patriot Act. While the Justice Department initially opposed such use they have changed their tune after the London bombings.
AP: FBI to Do Prisoner 'Threat Assessment'
AP reports: "FBI agents nationwide have been ordered to conduct 'threat assessments' of inmates who may have become radicalized in prison and could commit extremist violence upon their release, according to an FBI letter obtained by The Associated Press."
FBI report labels activist groups potential terrorists
According to an FBI report released to the American Civil Liberties Union, a number of anti-war groups, affirmative action organizations and animal rights activists have been labeled potential terrorists by federal and state law enforcement agencies. AP reports here.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Patriot Act Support Shrinks with Increased Info
AP reports: "Fewer than half of Americans know the purpose of the Patriot Act, and the more they know about it the less they like it, according to a poll released Monday."
Lawyers for Saudi Prisoner Ask Court to Throw Out Roberts Ruling
The Wall Street Journal reports that lawyers "for a Saudi prisoner asked the federal appeals court here to throw out a ruling denying Geneva Conventions protection to Guantanamo Bay detainees because Judge John Roberts voted on the case while privately pursuing a Supreme Court nomination with the White House."
Privacy Group Urges FCC to Guard Phone Data
"In a petition scheduled to be filed today, the Electronic Privacy Information Center urges the Federal Communications Commission to create tougher rules for how and when landline and wireless carriers release customer information." The Washington Post has this coverage.
US Court nominee to expect questions on torture
Reuters reports that U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts was told yesterday to expect questions at his Senate confirmation hearing about the Bush administration's view on the torture of terror suspects. "Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont said that during a meeting with Roberts he gave the conservative nominee a copy of a widely publicized administration memo that outlined how to avoid violating U.S. and international terror statutes while interrogating prisoners."
Monday, August 29, 2005
GOVERNMENT TRYING TO OVERTURN COURT VICTORY AGAINST DRUG DOGS
The Montana News Association reports that Florida's Attorney General has filed a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to overturn Florida v. Matheson which held that narcotic K-9s must be continually trained and tested under higher standards or they cannot be used to search people and cars. Attorney Rex Curry who handled the original motion to suppress maintains a web page with info about the case and the issue of drug dogs in general.
Lockheed Rules Roost on Electronic Surveillance
The Washington Post has this article about the New York contract awarded to Lockheed Martin to provide surveillance to their transit system. "The system will go way beyond the video cameras, recorders and emergency communications system used in London," including "an 'intelligent video' system that can spot a suspicious package left behind on a crowded subway platform and automatically call the police."
Senator: Nat'l Guard in More Surveillance
AP reports: "The California National Guard, already under investigation for allegedly spying on a Mother's Day peace rally, engaged in other surveillance activities involving citizens, a state senator said Thursday, citing a confidential Army report."
Sunday, August 28, 2005
A Clean Patriot Act
Commenting on the eventual Patriot Act vote, The Washington Post has this editorial arguing that "the Senate bill is much preferable to the version passed by the House of Representatives."
Friday, August 26, 2005
Civil Liberties vs National Security - Can We Climb Back Up the Slippery Slope?
"Fierce debates rage in England about new proposals to curb terrorism. The same debates will reoccur in America." Pacific News Service has this commentary.
In London Neighborhood, a Feeling of Being Watched
"Albert Siriboe is a black man in his twenties who lives south of the Thames River, which he said means he is likely to be stopped by police at any time for no reason." The Washington Post has this article detailing allegations that British police are increasingly harassing minority residents since the London attacks of July.
Library Challenges FBI Request
The Washington Post reports: "A member of the American Library Association has sued the Justice Department to challenge an FBI demand for records, but the USA Patriot Act prohibits the plaintiff from publicly disclosing its identity or other details of the dispute, according to court documents released yesterday."
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Tracking Every Move You Make: Can Car Rental Companies Use Technology to Monitor Our Driving?
"How far should a rental company (or an insurance company) be able to go in monitoring our driving patterns using tracking technology? And if companies do use GPS, or another system, to monitor our driving, how clearly must they give us notice of their plan to do so beforehand?" Findlaw.com has this commentary.
Officers Sue Over Use of Hair Drug Tests
AP reports: "The seven police officers swore they didn't use cocaine, yet their hair tested positive for the drug. The officers - all of them black - were promptly fired or suspended."
Secure Flight Is Set to Take Off, But Will our Data Be Secure?
Findlaw.com has this commentary on the difficulties the federal Transportation Security Administration has had balancing the use of personal consumer information with the need to screen passengers. "We need such screening mechanisms in place. But they need to be carefully designed and implemented so they can both ensure security, and honor privacy."
UK Lists Grounds for Deporting Hate Preachers
UK Bloomberg reports that Britain has published the criteria for deporting or excluding foreigners considered to be encouraging terrorism. "The list of 'unacceptable behaviors' includes expressing views that justify, glorify or foment terrorist violence, according to a statement released by the Home Office in London today. A database will be compiled of foreign-born radicals who will face vetting by immigration officials before being allowed into the UK."
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Difference between civil rights, liberties
"Quick -- what's the difference between civil liberties and civil rights? If you aren't quite certain, you have a lot of company." The Indianapolis Star has this commentary.
N.Y. transit system to add cameras, sensors
AP reports: "New York will install 1,000 surveillance cameras and 3,000 motion sensors in its sprawling network of subways and commuter rail stations as part of a $212 million security upgrade announced yesterday."
The known unknowns of a national ID card
"I don't fear ID cards. I need one, because I need to prove who I am. I want to be able to pass checks and board airplanes." The Seattle Times has this commentary.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
AMERICANS SURRENDERING LIBERTIES: SHADES OF GERMAN HISTORY
"The bottom line is, in the name of safety and security, the American people, as did the people of Germany in the 1930's, are willingly surrendering their liberties." Pastor Chuck Baldwin has this commentary at NewsWithViews.com.
Sparks City Council condemns Patriot Act
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Sparks "has become the second and largest Nevada city to support a nationwide effort opposing the USA Patriot Act."
London Police Modify Story
The Washington Post reports: "Scotland Yard acknowledged Monday that Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician mistaken for a suicide bomber, had done nothing unusual before he was shot after entering the London subway last month. Police said Menezes used a ticket to enter and had not jumped a turnstile, and they said he was not wearing a padded jacket that could have concealed a bomb."
Monday, August 22, 2005
AN INNOCENT MAN SHOT DEAD ON THE LONDON TUBE BY POLICE ... since then everything we’ve been told has been wrong.
UK's Sunday Herald has this commentary questioning some of the murky details that still surround the killing of an innocent Brazilian on a London train following the second terrorist attack in London on July 22. "The Metropolitan Police says the shooting was a 'tragic mistake'. But behind the public contrition there lies a web of contradictory state ments, deviation from routine procedures, and a mist of confusion..."
Feds: Terrorists may pose as homeless for surveillance
AP reports that "the government is warning that terrorists may pose as vagrants to conduct surveillance of buildings and mass transit stations to plot future attacks."
Anti-terror Patriot Act also spurs fears
The Huntsville Times has this review of Walter Brasch's new book America's Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government's Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights. "From its secret beginnings in the Justice Department to the vote in Congress where a vote against the act was characterized by administration officials as an act of treason or pro-terrorist, Brasch shows how its proponents capitalized on the confusion and fear after Sept. 11 to garner powers for the federal government that had previously been rejected by Congress (some parts of the act had been pushed unsuccessfully by the Clinton administration)."
Passport rules would bolster high-tech U.S. security borders
Findlaw.com has this article detailing the controversy swirling around a proposal to require tamper proof passports from all who enter the United States. "About 60 million Americans - 20 percent of the national population - have passports. Under the Bush proposal, the other 240 million would have to obtain one if they wanted to get back home after visiting Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Panama or the Caribbean."
New Yorkers support random bag searches -- poll
Reuters reports that a poll released Friday shows that "New Yorkers support random searches of their bags while riding public transportation by a margin of three to one despite objections from civil liberties groups to such measures."
Friday, August 19, 2005
TSA Data Dump Leads to Lawsuit
Wired reports: "Following accusations last month that the Transportation Security Administration violated the Privacy Act in testing its new airline passenger-screening program, four individuals sued the agency Thursday. They want the TSA to dig deeper for commercial data records it may have collected on each of them to test the Secure Flight program, and to hand over those records."
U.S. Wants Australian to Face Tribunal
AP reports: "Armed with a favorable ruling from Supreme Court nominee John Roberts and two other judges, the Bush administration argued Thursday that an Australian detainee held at Guantanamo Bay must undergo trial by military commission."
Tony Blair's Antiterrorism Package
The New York Times has this editorial attacking the wisdom of Tony Blair's plan to make naturalized, but not native-born, British citizens deportable for "extremism."
Sanctity of civil liberties restored during peacetime
The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California has this article posing the question of "how far a civilized country can go in its containment of terrorists without fatally damaging the nation’s cherished civil liberties."
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Improper Advances: Talking dream jobs with the judge out of court.
Slate.com has this article questioning the ethicality of Judge John Roberts' meeting with Aleberto Gonzales six days hefore he was to hear a case involving the government's position--articulated by Gonzales--challenging the reach of the Geneva Conventions to terror suspects.
N.M. Jurors Pop Gum-Threat Bubble
In more news from Albuquerque, "[a] federal jury took two hours Wednesday to acquit a 24-year-old dental hygiene student of felony charges resulting from the bubble gum and yellow sticky note she stuck to her payment on a speeding ticket ... Besides the pink substance on the ticket, Ho's note said: 'Caution Touch at your own risk or use gloves Ha-ha.'" Each charge carried a maiximum punishment of five years imprisonment.
Tic Tac Search Of Student Leads to Suit
The Albuquerque Journal reports: "The parents of a Taylor Middle School student who was pulled off a school bus and searched after sharing orange Tic Tacs with his friends have filed a civil rights lawsuit claiming unreasonable search and seizure and excessive force."
Suit charges illegal search, seizure
In Fourth Amendment news, "[e]ight federal jurors heard testimony Monday from a Fort Wayne man who is suing the city and several police officers alleging they violated his constitutional rights when they entered his home in July 2000 and seized his personal belongings." The News-Sentinel has this article.
Lawyer for Brazilian urges police chief to quit
Reuters reports: "Lawyers representing the family of a Brazilian man killed by police who thought he was a suicide bomber accused London's police chief on Thursday of trying to block an official inquiry and urged him to resign."
Patriot Act Resolutions Affect Congressional Votes
"Congress's recent vote on the USA PATRIOT Act shows that the nearly 400 community resolutions opposing parts of the Act have had a discernable impact." Kansas City's InfoZine has this editorial.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Footage Contradicts London Police Reports
AP reports: "A Brazilian shot to death a day after botched bombings in London had walked casually onto a train before being gunned down by undercover officers, according to leaked footage that appeared to contradict earlier police reports that said the man disobeyed police orders."
Police order to get back in car upheld
The Ninth U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that an order by a police officer to get back inside a vehicle does not render a subsequent search unconstitutional. The San Francisco Chronicle has this account.
Judge Heard Terrorism Case As He Interviewed for Seat
The Washington Post reports that Judge John G. Roberts Jr. was interviewing for his eventual Supreme Court nomination while hearing Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, a case that directly addressed the due process rights of detainees. "Roberts met with Gonzales on April 1, six days before hearing oral arguments in the case, which resulted in a unanimous decision in favor of the administration."
Curses, FOIAed Again: Seeking equilibrium between secrecy and openness
Reason has this piece analyzing the federal government's increased secrecy and its conflict with the public's need to know.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
'Sneak-and-Peek' Law Helps More Than War on Terror
Fox News has this report on the contested use of the 'sneak-and-peek' provision of the Patriot Act to uncover a tunnel used to transport drugs from the U.S. into Canada.
Spy Satellites Are Under Scrutiny
The Washington Post reports: "Bush administration intelligence chief John D. Negroponte is reviewing two multibillion-dollar spy satellite programs, according to congressional and administration sources, and will make recommendations on their future to House and Senate intelligence committees next month."
Fighting the Last Hijackers
John Tierney has this op-ed bemoaning the Transportation Security Administration's current focus on preventing another hijacking, accusing them of "wasting time looking for the wrong things... the T.S.A. has gone on fighting the last war."
Monday, August 15, 2005
Honduran businessman wages battle to win his freedom
"Today, David Henson McNab sits in a federal prison outside of Memphis, Tenn., about midway through an eight-year and one-month sentence for crimes in Honduras that the Honduran government now insists he did not commit." Alabama's Mobile Register documents the travails of McNab and three Americans, who critics argue have been unjustly and too zealously prosecuted by the Justice Department for convicting them of illegally transporting lobsters into the U.S.
TSA May Loosen Ban on Razorblades, Knives
AP reports: "The federal agency in charge of aviation security is considering major changes in how it screens airline passengers, including proposals that an official said would lift the ban on carrying razorblades and small knives as well as limit patdown searches."
Big Brother's watching
"Six could be seen peering out from a chain drugstore on Broadway. One protruded awkwardly from the awning of a fast-food restaurant. A supersized, domed version hovered like a flying saucer outside Columbia University." AP reports here on the increasing multiplicity of surveillance cameras in NY City since the bombings in Britain.
In wake of July bombings, Britain's crackdown is raising civil rights concerns
"Secret trials. Curbing free speech. Three months in jail without charge." AP reports on the civil liberties dilemma Britain finds itself in.
What You Can't Say Will Hurt You
"The United States has a long and unfortunate history of overreacting to the fears and anxieties of wartime and excessively restricting the freedom of speech." Geoffrey R. Stone has this op-ed in The NYTimes making the case for greater free speech in wartime.
Abused gay Mexican earns asylum in U.S.
"An AIDS-afflicted gay man from Mexico, who fled to San Francisco after a local policeman forced him into sexual acts under threat of being outed or killed, is eligible for political asylum, a federal appeals court ruled Friday." The San Francisco Chronicle has this article.
New Trial Sought for Lawyer in Terror Case
The NYTimes reports that lawyers for Lynne F. Stewart, "the New York lawyer who was convicted in February of aiding terrorism, have asked the judge to declare a mistrial because one juror failed to disclose during pretrial jury selection that he was biased against criminal defendants, according to federal court documents unsealed yesterday."
Friday, August 12, 2005
Patriot Act reauthorization
U.S Senator Jon Kyl, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, defends his vote for reauthorization of the Patriot Act. "Last month's unanimous committee vote was the result of a compromise that included both the Justice Department's top priorities for updates to the law as well as modifications designed to assuage concerns about civil liberties."
Appeals court ruling revives case of intercepted e-mail
The Boston Globe reports: "A federal appeals court in Boston said yesterday that a businessman charged with intercepting and reading his customers' e-mails can be tried under a federal wiretapping statute."
Police can keep photos of officers private, judge says
"Police departments can refuse to release photos of their officers under exemptions in the state's public records law, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday." Cleveland's Plain Dealer has this account.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
New plans are in store for an old number
The Christian Science Monitor has this piece airing privacy concerns involving potential pitfalls of the Real ID Act.
Eight Months Later, Civil Liberties Watchdog Group Remains "Toothless, Underfunded Shell"
Blogcritics.org has this summary of recent news reports detailing the apparent lack of motivation behind the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, ordered by Congress last year to protect individual rights that might be violated by the USA Patriot Act or other government actions during the "war on terror."
Congressman comments on passage of Patriot Act
"Today the House of Representatives passed the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill by a vote of 275-171. Based on my reservations, I voted against the legislation, as it restricts our personal freedoms and the spirit of our democracy." Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) explains why he voted against the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization.
Anger over Plan for Secret Courts
The Guardian UK reports that the British government plans to set up special courts with security-cleared judges to hold pre-trial hearings to decide the length of time suspects should be held before they are charged or released. Opponents are concerned that the pre-trial hearings are a cover to extend the period that terror suspects can be held without charge beyond 14 days. The security services and police want the period to be increased to three months.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Why the "Real ID" Act, Which Requires National Identity Cards, is a Real Mess
Findlaw.com has this commentary suggesting that the Real ID Act "is going to create many headaches and nightmares for state governments, which must now labor under an unfunded mandate; U.S. citizens; and lawful permanent residents alike."
Officials Test Radio Tags at Canada Border
"Security officials gathered Monday at a Canadian border crossing to mark the first test of a radio frequency identification system to be used by foreign visitors." AP reports here.
Airline Tests RFID on the Fly
Wired reports: "United Airlines pilots and crew are the flying guinea pigs in a test of controversial new passports equipped with remotely readable chips."
Brit License Plates Get Chipped
"The British government is preparing to test new high-tech license plates containing microchips capable of transmitting unique vehicle identification numbers and other data to readers more than 300 feet away. Officials in the United States say they'll be closely watching the British trial as they contemplate initiating their own tests of the plates, which incorporate radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags to make vehicles electronically trackable." Wired has this article.
Ex-lawmaker blasts Patriot Act
"[T]hat's what former Republican Congressman Bob Barr did Tuesday night at Pensacola Junior College when he warned conservatives and liberals alike about the dangers of the USA Patriot Act." The Pensacola News Journal has this coverage.
Big Brother and the Bureaucrats
The NYTimes has this op-ed urging Congress to investigate the increasingly widespread practice of federal eavesdropping on American citizens without a warrant.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Gonzales lauds work of Fitzgerald's office
The Chicago Tribune reports on a broad array of remarks made by the U.S. Attorney General, some involving the Patriot Act.
Bristol passes Patriot Act resolution
"The Bristol Town Council has passed a resolution asking Congress to further examine sections of the controversial federal Patriot Act," but "decided not to chide the 300-plus page document but suggested, instead, that Rhode Island's congressional delegation take a harder look at it as the Act comes up for renewal this summer and fall." EastBayRI.com has this account.
FBI, Please Protect Us from Terrorists and the ACLU
The Independent Institute has this commentary calling on the ACLU to "finally join those of us who have always opposed the entire slate of new federal police powers enacted since 9/11, which have inflicted great damage on the Bill of Rights and American liberties and been unnecessary, ineffective, and counterproductive in combating terrorism."
Monday, August 08, 2005
Parts of Patriot Act are offensive-lawyers group
Reuters has this coverage of remarks made by Michael Greco, president of the American Bar Association, critical of the Patriot Act. "We support the (Bush) administration in its efforts to secure the nation but we have taken policy positions, four or five of them, where we think due process has not been followed," Greco said in an interview with Reuters.
U.S. cities focus on spy cameras
"The striking images of London subway bombers captured by the city's extensive video surveillance system and a rising sense that similar attacks could happen in the U.S. are renewing interest in expanding police camera surveillance of America's public places." The Chicago Tribune has this article.
Families Learn of Recruiters' Lists - And How to Opt Out
The Los Angeles Times reports: "As the military struggles to meet recruitment goals, activists are intensifying efforts to educate parents about how they can delete their teenagers' names from directories that schools are required to provide recruiters under the federal No Child Left Behind Act."
One Nation, Under Watch
"Even though many critics believe the Patriot Act was a sucker-punch to the Bill of Rights, Congress plans to make many of its provisions permanent." The Santa Fe Reporter has this article.
Cannell's cautionary tale takes on Patriot Act
"I'm not a political activist, but I wanted to demonstrate the far-reaching effects the Patriot Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act are having on our civil liberties," Stephen J. Cannell tells the U-Press Telegram, referring to his newest novel.
Australia, Britain work on terror list
"Australia's security agencies are working closely with the United Kingdom to establish a shared database of suspected extremists who could face deportation." Australia's Seven News has this article.
Civil Liberties Panel Is Off to a Sluggish Start
"A civil liberties board ordered by Congress last year has never met to discuss its job of protecting rights in the fight against terrorism, and critics say it is a toothless, under-funded shell with inadequate support from President Bush." Reuters reports here.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Canada plans no-fly list, security review
"Canada said on Friday it will compile a 'no fly' list of potentially dangerous airline passengers as it reviews security at airports, seaports, railways and urban transport systems following last month's attacks in London." Reuters reports here.
Libraries at the center of efforts to change Patriot Act
"Libraries would hardly seem to be the front line in the war on terrorism, but Congress' debate over renewing the Patriot Act centers largely on whether federal agents should be able to investigate Americans' reading habits." Knight Ridder reports here.
US military to increase domestic surveillance
The US Defense Department has developed a new counterterrorism strategy "that would increase military activities on American soil, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering." This of course has civil liberties groups worried. The Christian Science Monitor has this account.
N.Y. police sued over bag-search policy
The Boston Globe reports: "The New York Civil Liberties Union sued the city's Police Department yesterday, calling the random search of subway riders' bags unconstitutional and ineffective."
Sen John Sununu: We can improve the Patriot Act before making it permanent
In this guest commentary, Sen. John Sununu advocates for the passage of the Security and Freedom Enhancement Act, known as the SAFE Act.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
States may become constitutional battlegrounds over civil liberties
If the Supreme Court becomes more conservative under President Bush, University at Buffalo Law Professor James A. Gardner says that state constitutions are likely to become the chief battleground over civil liberties. The University at Buffalo Reporter has this article.
Civil-liberties board struggles into existence
Reuters reports: A civil-liberties board ordered by the U.S. Congress last year has never met to discuss its job of protecting rights in the fight against terrorism, and critics say it is a toothless, underfunded shell with inadequate support from President Bush."
Civil Liberties Union Prepares Lawsuit Challenging Random Searches of Bags on Subways
NYTimes reports: "The New York Civil Liberties Union plans to file a lawsuit today challenging the legality of the Police Department's new policy of randomly searching bags and packages in the subway system."
ACLU: Records confirm FBI investigated protesters
"The FBI opened domestic terrorism investigations of peaceful demonstrators after reading Web sites announcing protests, according to FBI documents released yesterday by the American Civil Liberties Union." AP reports here.
Security cameras back in demand
The Christian Science Monitor reports that as a result of the London attacks, some U.S. politicians are calling for increased video surveillance.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl Tells PHXnews Why The Patriot Act Needs Reauthorization
U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl provides this explanation of why he is for the reauthorization of the Patriot Act.
Gonzales defends USA Patriot Act
In a speech to the National Fraternal Order of Police, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended the Patriot Act, calling it a "very important tool" for the law enforcement community. Afterwards, he addressed reporters and among other things justified the controversial section that allows the government to check library records. "We don't want to make libraries safe havens for terrorists," he said. The Advocate has this coverage.
FBI Flight Plans Hit Turbulence
"An FBI proposal to shoehorn a sweeping and sophisticated internet wiretapping capability into emerging in-flight broadband services would be illegal, unconstitutional and costly to implement, a civil liberties group is arguing." Wired has this article.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Dangers of RFID Passports
What We Now Know concludes: "RFID passports will not only limit our freedom, they will make us personally less safe and add little, if any, layers of safety to the nation. They should be emphatically rejected."
17-Minute Traffic Stop Too Short to Violate Rights
In a ruling last week from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Chief Judge J.L. Edmondson--in a half-page footnote--stated that a police officer who makes a traffic stop has at least 17 minutes to question the driver and passengers without violating their constitutional rights. "Where at its inception a traffic stop is a valid one for a violation of the law," Edmondson wrote, "we doubt that a resultant seizure of no more than seventeen minutes can ever be unconstitutional on account of its duration: the detention is too short." Law.com has this account.
Patriot Act debate will resume in fall
"Now that both the House of Representatives and the Senate have approved different versions of legislation to renew the controversial law, pressure is mounting for politicians to agree on a single bill that can be sent to President Bush without delay." CNET has this article.
U.S. Patriot Act 'sneak and peek' warrants questioned; bugs led to pot busts
"The USA Patriot Act made it possible for federal investigators to search and bug a 110-metre tunnel under the U.S.-Canadian border, and then watch and listen as hundreds of kilograms of marijuana were carried through it." AP reports here.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Judge dismisses several motions in lawsuit filed by Muslim lawyer
AP reports: "A lawsuit filed against the U.S. government by a Muslim lawyer mistakenly jailed after the 2004 Madrid train bombings was allowed to continue by a federal judge who ruled against various motions filed by government attorneys."
Is Your Fanny Pack Breeding Terrorists? How will looking in my bag protect me from terrorism? Search me.
Reason has this piece questioning the logic of New York's subway searches.
The State Of Surveillance
Business Week has this feature analyzing the level of surveillance technology employed in current society.
