Fergie's Tech Blog

Data Shows How Patriot Act Used

Richard B. Schmitt writes in The Los Anegeles Times:

The FBI issued thousands of subpoenas to banks, phone companies and Internet providers last year, aggressively using a power enhanced under the Patriot Act to monitor the activities of U.S. citizens, Justice Department data released late Friday showed.

The report given to members of Congress was the first to detail the government's use of a controversial form of administrative subpoena that has drawn fire because it can be issued by investigators without court oversight.

The Justice Department report also disclosed that its use of electronic surveillance and search warrants in national security investigations jumped 15% in 2005.

The data show that U.S. authorities are in some cases escalating their use of anti-terrorism statutes.

posted by Fergie @ 4/29/2006 10:44:00 AM