American Libraries |
||
Site NavigationLeft Sidebar ItemsOnline Features
Follow American Libraries news stories, videos, and blog posts on Twitter.
|
||
Bills Would Limit FBI’s Patriot Act Access to Library RecordsSenator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) introduced legislation July 31 designed to limit the government’s ability to secretly view library and bookstore records under the USA Patriot Act.The Library, Bookseller, and Personal Records Privacy Act (S. 1507) would restore a pre–Patriot Act requirement that the FBI make a factual, individualized showing that the records sought pertain to a suspected terrorist, and limits the agency’s subpoena to only relevant library records, such as borrowing records or computer sign-in logs. It also would place similar limits on another federal law-enforcement power expanded by the Patriot Act, the FBI’s National Security Letter authority, which gives the agency “administrative subpoena” powers that don’t require court approval. Feingold, the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act, said his proposal “would restore the privacy of Americans, while also allowing the FBI to follow up on legitimate leads,” adding that it “recognizes that under certain circumstances the FBI should have access to library, bookseller, or other personal information and simply puts safeguards in place to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens.” The same day, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced the Protecting the Rights of Individuals Act, intended to restore some civil-liberties protections weakened by the Patriot Act. Among its provisions, the bill would restore pre–Patriot Act limits on the FBI’s ability to obtain records through a FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) court order, and requires even higher, probable-cause standards on requests for library, bookstore, and medical records. It also addresses the issue of National Security Letter authority; limits what aspects of electronic communications could be captured with a “pen register” or “trap and trace” order; and requires the Attorney General to issue annual public reports on the number of searches conducted under the Patriot Act. In March, Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation to rescind the provisions of the Patriot Act that allow the government to secretly view library and bookstore records without obtaining a probable-cause search warrant. Posted August 4, 2003. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
