Bipartisan Bill Would Curb Patriot Act Powers
Wyden, Murkowski offer legislation
to protect privacy, civil liberties
August 1, 2003
Washington, DC – U.S.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
today to introduce the bipartisan Protecting the Rights of Individuals
Act, which will define and narrow the new powers given to government
agencies by the USA Patriot Act, passed by the 107th Congress
in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
“Right now, the Executive
Branch has greater powers to pursue potential enemies to the U.S.
than at any time since World War II – powers granted in
the days immediately following a terrible attack on this country’s
soil,” said Wyden. “With almost two years’ perspective
on the September 11 tragedy, I believe that Congress has an opportunity
and a duty to strike a more proper balance between security and
civil liberties.”
The Murkowski-Wyden bill regulates
the ability of law enforcement to delay notification of a search
warrant – so called “sneak-and-peek” activities.”
Prior to the USA Patriot Act, government had to simultaneously
give notice of a search warrant when searching for physical evidence.
The Patriot Act allowed for delays in notification. The Murkowski-Wyden
legislation would delay notification only in cases where terrorism
is suspected. It narrows the circumstances when notification can
be delayed, limits the delay to seven days with some possible
extensions, and it requires public reports on the number of times
when delayed notification is sought and used.
The legislation modifies the
definition of domestic terrorism so it does not include all violations
of federal or state criminal laws. It also provides courts greater
discretion to evaluate what types of evidence can be reasonably
sought. The Act will permit intelligence agencies to seek warrants
for a broad range of evidence, but will require a showing of “reasonable
cause” that the individual to whom the records pertain is
a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power in order to gain
search warrants. It also raises the standard for the government
to look at medical records, library records or records involving
the purchase or rental of books, videos and music, requiring the
government to show probable cause.
The bill also requires a court
order approving electronic surveillance – a wiretap –
to specify either the identity of the target or the location of
the facility where the surveillance will occur. Under the existing
Patriot act, a court order can be issued without identifying either
a specific target or location to be searched.
Currently, law enforcement can
obtain a court order authorizing certain types of surveillance
simply by certifying that the information likely to be obtained
is relevant to an authorized investigation. The Murkowski-Wyden
legislation requires the government to show specific facts that
indicate that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed
and provides the courts with greater judicial review authority.
The bill makes a host of other
clarifications: it also defines the types of Internet usage and
email information that can be obtained. It does not permit the
collection of information contained in the subject line of an
email or more detailed internet addresses. It requires greater
public reporting on activities conducted under the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act (FISA). It allows the government to conduct “data-mining”
activities only when Congress specifically authorizes them. It
applies discovery procedures already in place under the Classified
Information Procedures Act (CIPA) to other court proceedings that
will use evidence collected under FISA.
The legislation restores the
former requirement that the “primary purpose” for
electronic surveillance and physical searches under the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act is to obtain foreign intelligence.
The Patriot Act loosened the requirement to only require that
“a significant purpose” be required before the surveillance
was allowed.
The Murkowski-Wyden bill also
provides for greater judicial review of government requests for
educational records. Currently, the government can obtain education
records by simply certifying their need. The bill would require
the government to set forth specific facts indicating the education
records are relevant to an investigation.
The bill has been referred to
the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
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