Act Would OK Snail Mail Searches

[Prometheus]

Act Would OK Snail Mail Searches
By Declan McCullagh
May 23, 2002

WASHINGTON -- Just a few years ago, the U.S. Postal Service got savaged by privacy advocates after suggesting that private mailbox services were somehow objectionable.

Since services like Mailboxes Etc. could encourage fraud, the post office declared, businesses must limit anonymity by demanding photo ID from all customers.

Three years later, the Postal Service's lobbyists are fighting for Americans' privacy rights -- and opposing a bill in Congress that would allow U.S. Customs agents to open any mailed letter or parcel for almost any reason.

So far, the Postal Service has had little luck: On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the new surveillance powers by a 327 to 101 vote. The bill, titled the Customs Border Security Act, says that incoming or outgoing mail can be searched at the border "without a search warrant."

The vote on the larger bill -- which deals mostly with the budget for the U.S. Customs Service -- came after a surprisingly heated debate on the House floor over an amendment that would have deleted the mail-snooping sections.

"Exercise of these new powers could infringe on the right of innocent Americans to travel and communicate internationally free of unnecessary federal control," says Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), Congress' most ardent libertarian. "Please say no to unconstitutional searches and unaccountable government, and say yes to liberty and constitutional government "

Under current law, it is already legal for Customs agents to open packages they deem to be suspicious.
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rest of article:
http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,52739,00.html

 

[CrimsonKing]

SHIT! ... thanks for the info... I'm going to post this on the Anabolic board to as a heads up... WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMEN!

 

[the nature boy]

who's to say they're not doing it anyway?

 

[duff_rose]

This whole terriorist threat thing is going to end up taking all of our rights away... Any other countries taking applications???

 

[Prometheus]

This whole terriorist threat thing is going to end up taking all of our rights away...

[referring to the USA PATRIOT Act]

Other sections of the USA Act ... that do not expire include the following:


Police can sneak into someone's house or office, search the contents, and leave without ever telling the owner. This would be supervised by a court, and the notification of the surreptitious search "may be delayed" indefinitely. (Section 213)

Any U.S. attorney or state attorney general can order the installation of the FBI's Carnivore surveillance system and record addresses of Web pages visited and e-mail correspondents -- without going to a judge. Previously, there were stiffer legal restrictions on Carnivore and other Internet surveillance techniques. (Section 216)

Any American "with intent to defraud" who scans in an image of a foreign currency note or e-mails or transmits such an image will go to jail for up to 20 years. (Section 375)

An accused terrorist who is a foreign citizen and who cannot be deported can be held for an unspecified series of "periods of up to six months" with the attorney general's approval. (Section 412)

Biometric technology, such as fingerprint readers or iris scanners, will become part of an "integrated entry and exit data system" with the identities of visa holders who hope to enter the U.S. (Section 414)

Any Internet provider or telephone company must turn over customer information, including phone numbers called -- no court order required -- if the FBI claims the "records sought are relevant to an authorized investigation to protect against international terrorism." The company contacted may not "disclose to any person" that the FBI is doing an investigation. (Section 505)

Credit reporting firms like Equifax must disclose to the FBI any information that agents request in connection with a terrorist investigation -- without police needing to seek a court order first. Current law permits this only in espionage cases. (Section 505)

The current definition of terrorism is radically expanded to include biochemical attacks and computer hacking. Some current computer crimes -- such as hacking a U.S. government system or breaking into and damaging any Internet-connected computer -- are covered. (Section 808)

A new crime of "cyberterrorism" is added, which covers hacking attempts causing damage "aggregating at least $5,000 in value" in one year, any damage to medical equipment or "physical injury to any person." Prison terms range between five and 20 years. (Section 814)

New computer forensics labs will be created to inspect "seized or intercepted computer evidence relating to criminal activity (including cyberterrorism)" and to train federal agents. (Section 816)

 

[duff_rose]

[referring to the USA PATRIOT Act]

That’s the main one I was referring to... How could a bill with that title not pass right after the sept/11 incident... I see where they are coming from, but they are taking away everyone's rights in the meantime. I mean, the 4th amendment mean nothing anymore.
Congress really needs to think things through a bit more, as opposed to jumping on the anti-terrorism bandwagon just so they can get voted in again. They are killing the bill of rights.
(Note: I am not promoting, or approving of terrorism in any form)