Thread: FBI Agents Now Allowed to Investigate Anyone Without Evidenc

FBI Agents Now Allowed to Investigate Anyone Without Evidence of a Crime

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Jun 13, 2011

New Policies Allow FBI Agents to Snoop on Anyone Without Evidence of a Crime

The FBI has now given agents the authority to snoop on anyone, for any reason, even without evidence of criminal activity. Catherine Herridge explains the policy changes, which an FBI spokesman has characterized as "tweaks," saying that they'd give FBI agents more leeway to look into organizations or individual suspects without strong evidence of criminal behavior. Agents would be able to search databases without opening a record of their decision. They were previously required to open a file to show with their initial searches found.

These changes are drawing criticism from civil liberties groups, with the ACLU saying the new policies present new questions about whether agents are crossing the line and abusing their powers.

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FBI Can Go Through Your Trash

Monday, 13 Jun 2011 12:41 PM
By Martin Gould

New rules are to be introduced allowing FBI agents to turn up the pressure on potential informants and delve into the backgrounds of more Americans.

Most significant are changes that will allow agents to search through trash and administer more lie detector tests as a way to tighten the screws on potential informants, reports The New York Times.

FBI, trash, surveillanceUnder rules now in place, agents can use those techniques only on suspects, but the new regulations mean can use such tactics to gather information that could then be used to persuade people to help the bureau investigate others.

Other changes to be detailed in a new edition of the FBI’s Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide will allow agents to use more surveillance squads to follow targets and to search commercial and law enforcement databases without making a record of their investigations.

The bureau does not need permission to alter its manual so long as the changes fit within guidelines, FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni told The Times. She described the new rules as “more like fine-tuning than major changes.â€