Proposal created to expand internet monitoring in United States
Samantha J. Brandel, Writer
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: News
The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution guards against unreasonable search and seizure; Robert Mueller, Director of the FBI would like to impede that right by monitoring our Internet usage. Still in its conceptual stage, Mueller's "Omnibus Internet-Monitoring" proposal seems to have gotten support from some after it was presented to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in the second week of February. The government is presently monitoring 13 federal agencies (to protect their networks) under President Bush's Einstein Program.
Mueller has issued a proposal for our government to start compiling lists of Internet users to detect any suspicious or illegal activity. American's identities, the web servers they communicate with, the email addresses or usernames of those they communicate with and possibly the web address of every site they visit would be included in the compilation, all without a search warrant. This is precisely what Mueller has proposed.
In Sweden a contentious law allowing electronic surveillance went into affect in January. The Swedish National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA-Forsvarets radioanstalt) has been given the authority by Parliament to intercept all Internet traffic that crosses through Swedish national borders in order to combat terrorism. Sweden has about 9 million residents, and over six-and-a-half million have sent protest e-mails to the lawmakers who voted to enact this law, but so far nothing has changed.
The development of the "Omnibus Internet-Monitoring" proposal can be found in Mueller's speeches. Visit http://www.fbi.gov/pressroom.htm to read his speeches and follow the potential of his plan.
Mueller has issued a proposal for our government to start compiling lists of Internet users to detect any suspicious or illegal activity. American's identities, the web servers they communicate with, the email addresses or usernames of those they communicate with and possibly the web address of every site they visit would be included in the compilation, all without a search warrant. This is precisely what Mueller has proposed.
In Sweden a contentious law allowing electronic surveillance went into affect in January. The Swedish National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA-Forsvarets radioanstalt) has been given the authority by Parliament to intercept all Internet traffic that crosses through Swedish national borders in order to combat terrorism. Sweden has about 9 million residents, and over six-and-a-half million have sent protest e-mails to the lawmakers who voted to enact this law, but so far nothing has changed.
The development of the "Omnibus Internet-Monitoring" proposal can be found in Mueller's speeches. Visit http://www.fbi.gov/pressroom.htm to read his speeches and follow the potential of his plan.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Mark Landes
posted 5/13/09 @ 2:35 PM CST
Great article!!! Samantha is a wonderful writer!
Post a Comment