New FBI Guidelines Aim to Curb Abuse

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Source: Associated Press

The FBI warned its agents Wednesday to carefully review all personal data collected from Americans in terror investigations to protect their privacy rights and not to expect the evidence to remain secret.

The warning came in new FBI guidelines issued to correct abuses of so-called national security letters that were revealed in a Justice Department audit three months ago. The letters allow investigators to subpoena evidence, without court approval, in international terrorism and spy cases.

Under the guidelines, which span 24 pages and are effective immediately, investigators must request specific information, and justify its need, before the demand for information is sent. Moreover, agents must lay out reasons the request must remain secret.

That marks a major change in the USA Patriot Act, which governs the use of national security letters, from before it was reauthorized in 2005.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/national_security_letters_1

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1. Is this the practical professionals regaining some

ground they had lost to the ideologues?

[Ben Masel]

2. Quiible

It's not a change in the PATRIOT Act, rather a change in how the act is being used.