New FBI guidelines aim to curb abuse (Patriot Act)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - The FBI is warning its agents 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 draft FBI guidelines made public Wednesday to be 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 records, without court approval, in terrorism and spy cases.

Under the 24-page guidelines, which are effective immediately, investigators must request specific information — and justify its need — before the demand for data is sent.

Moreover, the strictly worded rules require all evidence received from the subpoena to be reviewed before it is uploaded into FBI databases to make sure that only the information specifically requested is used. Any irrelevant or extra material received will be locked away from investigators and, potentially, ultimately returned or destroyed.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/national_security_letters_9

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FBI issues 'clearer guidance' in Patriot Act probes
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI has issued "clearer guidance" to its agents to prevent "lapses" in a controversial program used to secretly gather private information under the Patriot Act, FBI Assistant Director John Miller said in a statement late Wednesday.

A government audit released in March by the Justice Department's inspector general said the FBI was guilty of "serious misuse" of power in its use of national security letters (NSLs), which agents send to third parties demanding personal and business information about individuals -- such as financial, phone, and Internet records -- without court orders.

more:http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/06/13/wednesday/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[Speaker]

1. How about...

We curb the abuses by abolishing the entire damned "PATRIOT" Act, which should have never been passed in the first place?

We had no business passing 1930's Nazi enabling acts.

[aquart]

2. I'm with you. Void the Patriot Act. In toto.

For one thing, there is absolutely no reason to believe the FBI will be any more trustworthy than before the new guidelines.

[Zodiak]

3. Well, the FBI cannot do that

because they do not write the laws.

However, this is a cute way of restoring some Constitutional rights wthout having to rely on a toothless Congress to get it done.