National Security Letters: The Department Of Defense’s Key to Your Information
Those National Security Letters (NSLs), the ones that allow law enforcement agencies to get the release of information, such as communications or business records, without a court order, are back in the news again. The American Civil Liberties Union is accusing the FBI of using the letters to get information on private citizens and giving the information to the Department of Defense.
According to the ACLU, they obtained the information through the Freedom of Information Act, and have asked the Department of Justice Inspector General Glenn Fine to launch an investigation. They state that if the DOD did in fact get the information in this manner, it constitutes sidestepping the law, and in doing so they obtained private information that they are not entitled to have. This would be in violation of the limits that Congress put in place of what the DOD could get from the letters.
The NSLs have been a subject of controversy ever since their inception since they have no judicial process and they also contain a gag order forbidding the person served with the letter from making any statements. They were originally created back in 1978, and their intended use was limited to foreign nationals or foreign powers, but the Patriot Act expanded their powers and allowed them to be used against U.S. residents who are not necessarily the subject of any kind of criminal investigation. The FBI can use the letters to get information on anyone, but the DOD is not supposed to be able to have access to that information.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives and Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) has done the same in the Senate. Both have the same name, the “National Security Letter Reform Act.” If passed, they will greatly restrict the use of the NSLs.
The question arises as to where the line between National Security stops and the privacy rights of American citizens begins. How do they determine whose records they obtain? It sure isn’t because someone is a criminal, or is even suspected of criminal activity. If they are looking at a certain company that you may have done business with, they have the power to get any information on you that they want and you will never know it. In certain circumstances, the National Security Letters can be a useful tool, but as with anything that is abused, they can do more harm than good. The courts are there for a purpose. They are the checks and balances that assure that any agency does not overstep their bounds. Without them, our lives are an open book to anyone and who knows where it could lead.
Comment by brainon4u on 9 April 2008:
Infringement on our privacy never ends! Those who make the laws take liberties at breaking their own laws! Same with the wiretaps that went on MONTHS before 9/11 and an order to attack ONE DAY after 9/11.
If wiretaps are so successful, why didn’t they stop the 9/11 attacks OR did they purposefully ALLOW that to happen? Things that make you go hummmmm!
Comment by timberland 14 inch premium boots on 13 November 2010:
The good timberland 6 inch boots news is that you can stop the cycle before it gets bad. When you start to notice signs of timberland 6 inch premium boot tension, talk to your partner. This may seem like the last timberland 14 inch premium boots thing in the world you want to do, but this five-minute talk can be the difference between you ending womens 14 inch boots up in an unhealthy relationship or keeping womens timberland roll top boots safe. Within the conversation call them on what they’ve been doing timberland roll top boots and let them know it’s not okay. Be clear that you will end things if this timberland chukka boots behavior continues. Watch how your partner reacts. If they blow it off, it’s time to get out; chances are if you stay in the timberland chukka boots for men relationship the abuse will continue and possibly worsen. If your partner seems serious about making the kids timberland boots changes and understands where you’re coming from, he can earn a second chance. But abusers don’t usually just do it once, so create a timberland boat shoes plan of action in case the abuse continues. This plan should include things like who you can call and where you can go to get out of a bad timberland boat shoes sale situation. No matter how far into the cycle you are, it is possible to leave. First talk to someone. Develop a safety timberland boots plan, and then break things off. Once apart, avoid getting sucked back into the relationship by distancing yourself as far as possible from them and asking others to watch out for you. Do anything and everything to keep yourself timberland boot company safe. http://www.timberland-6inch.co.uk/
Comment by Ray Bans on 18 July 2011:
Zizum will almost certainly be the widest on the internet sunglasses shop. http://www.rayban-rb.com
Comment by uggs for sale on 17 October 2011:
Maybe you are which means that amazing! My spouse and I please don’t believe read through whatever along these lines well before. So competent to find anybody with a bit of traditional ideas on this kind of area of interest. realy appreciate your sharing starting up this unique all the way up.