Under the Patriot Act, the FBI can acquire bank records and Internet or phone logs simply by issuing itself a so-called national security letter saying the records are relevant to an investigation into terrorism. The FBI doesn't need to show probable cause or consult a judge. What's more, the target institution is issued a gag order and kept from revealing the subpoena's existence to anyone, including the subject of the investigation.
The new provision in the spending bill redefines the meaning of "financial institution" and "financial transaction." The wider definition explicitly includes insurance companies, real estate agents, the U.S. Postal Service, travel agencies, casinos, pawn shops, ISPs, car dealers and any other business whose "cash transactions have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax or regulatory matters.
Go read the rest of the happy joy expansion of Big Brother yet again, here. If you're not scared or outraged by this, you're either not understanding what this all means and how the administration is whiping their ass with the Bill of Rights, or you're a dumbass. There's just no two ways about this. America is sinking quite rappedly into nothing short of a police state.
~ flowers bloom near Memory and Dream
at 11/24/2003 09:36:29 PM ~
~
