Patriot Act E-Mail Searches Apply to Non-Terrorists, Judges Say

[tjwash]

More freedoms lost.

When this one came up the end of February, it seems we all started arguing about wedge issues like the color of peoples skin, and where they are from, and this one got slipped through pretty silently.

Two federal judges in Florida have upheld the authority of individual courts to use the Patriot Act to order searches anywhere in the country for e-mails and computer data in all types of criminal investigations, overruling a magistrate who found that Congress limited such expanded jurisdiction to cases involving terrorism.

The disagreement among the jurists about the scope of their powers simmered for more than two years before coming to light in an opinion unsealed earlier this month. The resolution, which underscored the government's broad legal authority to intercept electronic communications, comes as debate is raging over President Bush's warrant-less surveillance program and the duties of Internet providers to protect personal data.

A magistrate judge in Orlando, James Glazebrook, first questioned the so-called nationwide-search provision in 2003, after investigators in a child pornography probe asked him to issue a search warrant requiring a "legitimate" California-based Web site to identify all users who accessed certain "password-protected" photos posted on the site. The Web provider was not named in public court records.

Full Story here at infowars.

[annabanana]

1. This is a horrible precedent.

Is the fact that this is Florida germane? Or is this likely to be applied in other states?

[rodeodance]

2. since drawn from the PA, it seems it would not be a state issue but appli-

cable nation wide. Whow. it just keeps coming doesn't it.

[aquart]

3. Abolish the Patriot Act. Every line of it.

[annabanana]

4. kickin' for the outrage factor!

[tjwash]

5. Thank you annabanna.

This was one of those "passed in the middle of the night" deals.

[Neil Lisst]

6. One more example of the Patriot Act being used for any purpose

Remember the good old days, when police used to need a reason to conduct searches, used to need warrants?

This is tragic. It's like Katrina breaching the levees and flooding New Orleans, only it's the law of 200 years being breached, and the floodwaters of fascism that come rushing in.

[Zhade]

7. Infowars? Really?

Um, got a better source? Like, a reliable one?