Secret Library Searches...?

[Xaria]

I haven't fully examined the patriot act, but it has come to my attention(via NPR) that police officials now have the authority to search library records to determine who knows what, and the librarians have no methods of countering such interrogations. And the library employees are not allowed to let ANYONE know about the secret surveillance or the information obtained. And the telecommunications are being treated similar. Power has overridden privacy for us American peoples. What concerns me is that they are allowed to opperate on a suspicious whim. So if everybody is a suspect, are they still innocent until proven guilty? When did freedom of speech turn into domestic terrorism? Anyway all I gots to say is, don't be pacified by methods of turmoil and try to find peace in your hearts.

[ana]

actually i have worked at asu library since 1997 and i was always taught that you were not allowed to give out ANY patron information to anyone. a policeman even came in once and my boss told him that she could not give him any information. it may be different for public libraries, but at asu, we don't spill it.

[Xaria]

That has been the policy of all libraries until we embarked upon the war against terrorism. The Patriot Act has outlawed that policy. Libraries are looking to courts for ways to protect the privacy of their patrons. How long ago were you trained?

[IonSant]

THE KOOP (ME) worked for the Phoenix Public Library
until last June and I just asked my Library homey this
question,and the answer is FUCKEN NO SEARCH WARRANT,
or COURT ORDER = NO GETTING ANY PERSONAL INFO!

Also the library does not keep any permanent records
of books checked out unless there is a fine on the
item.

NPR --- maybe you heard it wrong :(

[ana]

in fact, on the book's record, it only has a note of the last person who checked it out, but not a whole history of who has, now that it's computerized rather than card-catalog. in patron records, you can look at what they have checked out but again, we don't give out that information. twerd.

[IonSant]

So whos that on your SIG? .ana.

[Xaria]

Thanx for the keeping me posted. I guess I shouldn't hold opinions about shit I don't understand. :)

[ana]

as far as the terrorism thing goes, you may be right, but we were never notified of any changes in policy at ASU, and i worked at both the law library and the main library after the attacks. however, i too often find people taking things that are said on NPR as commentary or editorial to be fact...ie. the art bell show (:slayer). who knows? i sure don't.

[ana]

oh ian, that guy is "i hate you when you're pregnant" :)

[IonSant]

"Heeeeeyy! Hot bitches gimmeee soome Pusssy!!!"

[ana]

:slayer

[theory]

Section215 of Patriot Act I

Evading the Requirement of Evidence of Crime When Americans Are To Be Investigated

Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act would grant FBI agents across the country breathtaking authority to obtain an order from the FISA court or any federal magistrate requiring any person or business to produce any books, records, documents or items. The judge exercises no discretion: he must issue the order upon receipt of the FBI application asserting that it seeks the records in connection with a foreign intelligence investigation, or an investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities. This information can include extremely sensitive information such as: medical records, mental health records, financial records, video rental records, fingerprints, DNA samples from a person's hair, employment records, records of employment-based drug testing, and immigration records maintained by non-profit agencies.

Under current law, FBI agents acting with a judicial or grand jury subpoena issued in connection with a criminal investigation can obtain access to much of this information. Privacy statutes and regulations -- such as the Right to Financial Privacy Act -- protect some of this information, and require certain safeguards such as notice. Section 215 would trump many of these legislative schemes that were carefully crafted to protect sensitive information. It explicitly bars notice to the party whose records are being disclosed, and unlike current law, does not require that law enforcement be conducting a criminal investigation.

The FBI already has authority to seek such orders to require airlines, car rental companies and bus companies, and those who maintain storage facilities, to turn over information for foreign intelligence purposes. 18 U.S.C. 1861-3. However, it can use its intelligence gathering authority to obtain this information only when there are "specific and articulable facts giving reason to believe that the person to whom the records pertain is a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power." 18 U.S.C. 1862(a)(b)(2)(B). The agent of a foreign power requirement protects most Americans from this form of intelligence surveillance.2 Section 215 would eliminate the requirement that the records pertain to an agent of a foreign power and would grant the FBI access to all documents maintained by all businesses, not just those maintained by travel-related businesses. Moreover, Section 215 would extend access not only to documents, but also to things.

This broad new authority threatens to usher in a new age of investigation of Americans based on their political activities. While section 215 bars such investigation of Americans solely upon the basis of activity protected by the First Amendment, it permits such investigation based on First Amendment activity tied to other conduct that relates to international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities. Similar ties were used to justify both the COINTELPRO the CISPES investigations.





patriot act II draft
http://www.dailyrotten.com/source-docs/patriot2draft.html