Posted on 02/21/2015 7:36:15 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Global tech giant Google submitted public court comments this week calling the FBI’s new plan for obtaining digital search warrants a “serious and complex” constitutional concern.
Google’s comments are warning of a new Justice Department program that would allow judges more flexibility in approval of search warrants for electronic data.
The company’s director of law enforcement and information security says that the plan to alter an existing provision, known as Rule 41:
“…raises a number of monumental and highly complex constitutional, legal, and geopolitical concerns that should be left to Congress to decide.”
According to National Journal, Rule 41 of criminal procedure, “permits judges to grant search warrants only within the bounds of their judicial district.”
But last year, the Justice Department petitioned for the rules to be changed, allowing for judges to approve search warrants outside of their jurisdictions in cases where authorities are not completely sure where a computer is located.
Googles fears that, if the rule change is approved, the vague language of the rule will allow the Justice Department to remotely access millions of people’s computers and the documents on them, i.e legal spying.
The Justice Department is denying claims that the change would allow such access, saying that the “small tweak” in the language of the rule is necessary to keep up with modern technology.
According to Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Bitkower, whose 2014 written statements about the provision and Google’s challenge were released last week:
“The proposal would not authorize the government to undertake any search or seizure or use any remote search technique not already permitted under current law.”
Google argues that the power to expand government’s investigative and technological tools lies with Congress.
The Washington Times reports that a decision about the possible expansion of Rule 41 will be made within the next “several months,” after a review by Congress and the Supreme Court.
computers have made our lives so much better.
““The proposal would not authorize the government to undertake any search or seizure or use any remote search technique not already permitted under current law.”
That’s BS. Why do they need a rule change that doesn’t change anything?
Same reason Obola needs a new immigration law when he doesn’t even enforce the existing one.
Why is it so hard to believe Google would be on the right side of constitutional principles?
Google is a Titan who has been alled with the left since their founding.
If they have woken up, there may be some small hope.
Because their senior execs have been and are leftist and obastard supporting scum?
Allied*
Instead they are beginning to see that Obama has found a perfect place for his knife.
Google isn’t accustomed to competition, nor to being told what to do.
google does not like the rivalry
Probably about greasing the way past safeguards
And we almost buy their line of bull, too. ;')
Right you are. I knew there was an explanation.
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