Security News > 2020 > May > You know this Land of the Free thing, yeah? Well then, why allow the FBI to trawl through America's browsing history without a warrant?

Congress has been urged to introduce a measure that would require the FBI to get a warrant before agents can review Americans' internet browsing and search histories - just days after an amendment to do that fell by one vote in the Senate.

Some new powers were also granted to law enforcement, including the ability to demand the browsing and search histories of citizens without needing to prove their case to a judge, which has serious privacy implications.

"The FBI should not be allowed to use the PATRIOT Act to surveil Americans' online activity without a warrant," the groups argued, referring to America's super-snooping law the USA Freedom Act will amend.

"Internet search and browsing history is extremely revealing in nature and the Fourth Amendment requires a warrant to obtain this information."

In addition to the new warrant-free browser history harvesting powers, the updated Senate-approved version of the bill also expands the ability of the authorities to track and wiretap people who change telephone numbers, as well as tail someone under the "Lone wolf" theory that the individual is single-handedly plotting a terror attack.

News URL

https://go.theregister.co.uk/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2020/05/20/us_spy_bill/