Top FBI Official Urges Agents to Use Warrantless Wiretaps on US Soil
May 9, 2024
auto_awesome
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate urges agents to use warrantless wiretaps on US soil, emphasizing the focus on investigating Americans while complying with legal boundaries despite past misuse. The podcast also discusses statistics on surveillance searches under the controversial Section 702 program, debates surrounding surveillance and privacy rights, and calls for reforms to protect privacy rights and prevent overreach.
FBI deputy director encourages agents to utilize warrantless wiretaps on US soil under Section 702 program
House Intelligence Committee celebrates extension of Section 702 surveillance program despite privacy concerns
Deep dives
FBI Encouraging Warrantless Wiretaps on US Soil
A top FBI official urges agents to use warrantless wiretaps under the controversial Section 702 program, which has been previously misused to target US protesters, journalists, and even a member of Congress. The program allows surveillance of communications without needing a search warrant, with a strict requirement that at least one individual involved is believed to be outside US territory. The FBI has faced scrutiny for the misuse of the program, despite claiming a compliance rate of around 98%.
House Intelligence Committee Celebrates 702 Program Extension
The US House Intelligence Committee celebrates the extension of the Section 702 surveillance program, which permits warrantless access to communications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Lawmakers have organized a bipartisan event in the US Capitol to mark the program's continuation, despite concerns from privacy advocates about the scope and potential abuse of the surveillance measures.
Challenges and Controversies Surrounding Section 702 Program
The Section 702 program, originally established in 2008, has expanded its surveillance scope encompassing cybercrime, drug trafficking, and arms proliferation. Critics are wary of the program's potential to target a broad range of entities beyond terrorism and sabotage, with concerns about vague language in legislation enabling excessive surveillance. Amid discussions about amending Section 702, the program's proponents emphasize the need for oversight and clarity in defining surveillance targets.
An internal email from FBI deputy director Paul Abbate, obtained by WIRED, tells employees to search for “US persons” in a controversial spy program’s database that investigators have repeatedly misused.