Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said Thursday he has introduced an amendment to end the FBI’s “power grab” in the spy powers bill aimed at curbing government surveillance abuses. .
holy I have written“Everyone should know about the Turner Amendment.” This part of the House bill would give the FBI the power to pressure even more individuals to cooperate in furthering government surveillance. Could they be sharing your information with the FBI? Maybe.
The Missouri senator issued a stern warning about an amendment proposed by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-Conn.).
Breitbart News takes a look at this amendment and how it could dramatically expand the number of companies and Americans who must comply with the government and provide warrantless access to their communications systems. Reported.
Basically, the measures are update The definition of electronic service provider also includes “any other service provider that has access to equipment that is or may be used to transmit or store wired or electronic communications.”
The provision has been called a “Trojan horse” for “Patriot Act 2.0” by privacy advocates.
Hawley argued that this expanded access is in the FBI’s interest. The FBI is an agency that “doesn’t deserve” more powers given its abuses.
He asked rhetorically, “Remember the Durham report? It found that the FBI abused its authority to launch an investigation into the Trump campaign.”
And who would expanding FISA more broadly give more power to? The FBI. It’s an agency that has proven time and time again that it doesn’t deserve it.
Remember the Durham Report? It was found that the FBI abused its authority by launching an investigation into the Trump campaign.
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 18, 2024
He continued, “And the FBI’s record on Section 702 is just as bad. In 2022, judges identified approximately 278,000 inappropriate searches against Americans in the FISA database. This is the same FBI that the House of Representatives has decided to give even more power to. It’s insane. And it has to stop.”
RELATED: Jim Jordan: There are 204,000 reasons to oppose FISA reauthorization
House Judiciary Committee / YouTube
Steve Bradbury, a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told Breitbart News that the scope of the amendment is so broad that experts like him have no idea how many companies like Himes Turner He explained that he may not know whether he will have to comply with the proposed amendments.
Bradbury said:
…Why not think about a third-party contractor who has access to the equipment? For example, a cleaning company that has keys to the data center and cleans things like the data center floor. Technically, they have access to the equipment. Can the NSA do it? [National Security Agency] Did it issue an order to the management company demanding that the NSA be allowed access to its data center? Therefore, the effects are troubling. And at this point, the full details are unknown.
The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a technology group representing companies such as Apple and Google, said the provision could significantly expand companies’ obligations to comply with warrantless surveillance.
John Miller, Senior Vice President of Policy and General Counsel, ITI Said In a statement Thursday, it said:
While we appreciate the Department of Justice’s decision today to allow the new powers to be used on a limited basis and in a way that involves a “very small number” of companies, we believe that our unresolved concerns will ultimately be addressed in the legislation. It is necessary to We appreciate Chairman Warner’s commitment to improving this provision before the next expiration of his FISA authority.
To combat this controversial proposal, Mr Hawley said he had introduced an amendment to block it.
Mr Hawley concluded: “Bottom line: The government does not deserve any more unlimited surveillance powers. We have proposed amendments to stop this new power grab before it is too late.”
Bottom line: The government does not deserve any more unlimited surveillance powers. I have introduced amendments to stop this new power grab before it is too late.
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 18, 2024
Sean Moran is a policy reporter at Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.
