Friday, September 7, 2007

really, parts of the Patriot Act found unconstitutional?

The FBI was ordered yesterday to stop its use of warrentless tactics to snatch personal data (telephone convos, emails) from private companies for counter-terrorism purposes.

"The risk of investing the FBI with unchecked discretion to restrict such speech is that government agents, based on their own self-certification, may limit speech that does not pose a significant threat to national security or other compelling government interest," explains U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in New York.

Marrero sang the same song in 2004, however congressional legislation passed in 2005 to remedy these concerns elicited the same response from Marrero yesterday: "several aspects . . . violate the First Amendment and the principle of separation of powers."

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