Beware of VICTORY Act, Privacy Group Warns

CNS New Service ^ | 08-18-03

[Brian S]

Beware of VICTORY Act, Privacy Group Warns By Susan Jones CNSNews.com Morning Editor August 18, 2003

(CNSNews.com) - A consumer watchdog group is sounding an alarm over legislation that hasn't even been introduced yet.

The National Consumer Coalition's Privacy Group recently read a draft copy of the VICTORY Act, which "has some chilling implications for consumer privacy," the group said.

VICTORY stands for Vital Interdiction of Criminal Terrorist Organizations Act of 2003.

Attorney General John Ashcroft plans to promote both the VICTORY Act and the USA PATRIOT Act on his ten-day, 20-stop tour of America, which begins on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

According to the NCC's Privacy Group, the VICTORY legislation is "a grab-bag of enhanced police-state powers."

For example, the group says, one section of the bill gives the Attorney General the power to issue "administrative subpoenas" in investigations stemming from an extremely broad definition of "terrorism." (According to NCC, an "administrative subpoena" is like a search warrant automatically issued by the clerk of court, except there's no need to have a judge sign off on it.)

The NCC Privacy Group says that under the VICTORY Act, the Justice Department would have the power to subpoena consumer data from a business.

"Section 504 specifically mentions subpoenaing consumer records from telecommunication companies, Internet service providers, and financial service firms such as banks," the group said in a press release.

The NCC says other provisions of the bill would nullify consumer-business privacy contracts, by allowing companies to ignore privacy agreements with consumers and still be immune to civil litigation by customers.

The VICTORY Act supposedly will be subject to revision over the August recess, the NCC Privacy Group notes. The group says it will be watching closely when the VICTORY Act is introduced later this year.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The more innocent sounding the name, the more chilling the implications. If they ever come out with the Warm Fuzzy Puppies and Laughing Children Act, we are doomed.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"Vital Interdiction of Criminal Terrorist Organizations Act"

Typical liberals. If you're not a criminal or terrorist organization, what is there to be screaming about?

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

If, God forbid, Hillary is ever elected President, do you want her to have this kind of power? That's what I ask myself whenever the government asks for more power in exchange for my privacy.

The new twist to this is that now all of these records are in databases being built, run and accessed in foreign countries by foreigners in 3rd world countries like India, where corruption is a way of life.

[Eala]

The more innocent sounding the name, the more chilling the implications. If they ever come out with the Warm Fuzzy Puppies and Laughing Children Act, we are doomed.

Note my tagline...

[BlackbirdSST]

Heeeeeeeere's Johnny! Citizen's beware. Blackbird.

[John Beresford Tipton]

This isn't about "terrorism", it's about more power for the government, and the concommitant ability to abuse that power.

Think about it.
Saddam might be the vilest person on earth, but go into your room, pull down the shades, take out a pad.

Make two columns.
In one column list everything that Saddam did to *you*,
add everything the nutty Talebin did to *you*,
add in everything that the fruitcake Kim Il did to *You*
Then sum up that column.

Go to the other column.
List there every way that some *other* government has screwed you around.
It might take you some time, hopefully you'll finish by next April 15th.
Then sum up that column.

Which column is bigger?
Sssh. Don't tell me, don't even say it out loud.
Just tell these "Conservative" Republicans" who come up with these scams, "Please, sir, can I have some more"?

[mabelkitty]

Is this the act RIAA is cloaked up in to get down-loading imprisoned on a felony?

Sounds like it.

[mabelkitty]

Furthermore, until illegal aliens and visa holders are tossed out, I see no reason to increase penalties and laws against American citizens who pose no threat.

Government can't have it both ways.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Lazamataz]

Typical liberals. If you're not a criminal or terrorist organization, what is there to be screaming about.

Typical conservatives, too. If you don't have anything to hide, why are you using envelopes when you mail things? You should be using a postcard.

[John Beresford Tipton]

When envelopes are outlawed,
only outlaws will have envelopes!

[Lazamataz]

When envelopes are outlawed, only outlaws will have envelopes!

If it saves ONE LIFE, it's worth it!

[WhiteGuy]

If, God forbid, Hillary is ever elected President, do you want her to have this kind of power?

I don't want George Bush to have this power.

Bold faced Tyrany

[mrustow]

LOL! John Beresford Tipton, where's my million dollars!

[John Beresford Tipton]

"John Beresford Tipton, where's my million dollars!"

Well, mrustow, you sure get right to the "bottom line" in a hurry.

Unfortunately, Mr. Anthony is no longer in my service. He said he was bored giving all those millions to worthy people such as you, mrustow. Instead he hooked up with that young scamp, Dick Clark, and joined his Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol.

So though you might keep looking down you driveway for Mr. Anthony, he will no longer be coming here to Silverstone on his way to find his "next millionaire".

On many occasions I was able to summon Michael Anthony to come to my palatial estate, Silverstone, to receive his next assignment. Unfortunately, his scoundrel of a cousin, Mordred "Tex" Anthony had me mortgage Silverstone and invest in Enron. I am now trying to get handouts from all those very same millionaires that I created, but because I did it anonymously, they think I'm a con man and slam the door in my face.

Now if you would like to send me a small remittance, it might enable me to prime my finacial pump, by flying over to Nigeria to move ahead with a project that I am told, in absolute confidence, should fatten my secret bank account that their Central Bank is holding in my name to the sweet tune of $50 million rolling. Can I count on you?

[mrustow]

Surrrrre! Just as soon as my money comes in from Ghana!

[ActionNewsBill]

Measures in the 89-page draft include:

Creation of a new category of crime called "Narco-terrorism."

Radical expansion of asset forfeiture powers for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.

Expansion of the definition of money-laundering to several kinds of transactions, including offshore banking as a means of tax evasion.

Creation of a ludicrous new "crime" of "reverse money-laundering."

Longer jail terms for a number of nonviolent drug and nondrug offenses.

Expanded opportunities for judge-shopping in wiretap cases.

Expansion of nonjudicial "administrative subpoenas" for "terrorism" investigations as broadly defined in the USA PATRIOT Act.

. . . and that's just a partial listing.

Draft text of VICTORY Act

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

I don't use letters. But thank for trying to join the conversation. Did she also have trouble with your futile attempts to fit in?