Sen. Ron Wyden calls for surveillance policy shift

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By NIGEL DUARA

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — When it comes to searches by law enforcement, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden believes people's online communication should have just as much protection as their homes and property.

In a speech Friday at a Portland tech conference, the Oregon Democrat called for updates to the rules by which intelligence agencies operate, and said he plans new legislation aimed at ending bulk electronic surveillance.

"If you would defend a society built on the principle of individual liberty, you need to recognize that you can no longer rely on the fact that mass surveillance is hard. Folks, in the 21st century, mass surveillance is easy," Wyden said.

The senator is challenging the so-called Third Party Doctrine. It holds that citizens' information in the hands of third parties, like phone companies, becomes business records and is not subject to the same rigorous search-warrant process as other personal effects.

FULL story at link.



FILE - In this March 5, 2014, file photo, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Wyden is calling for a shift in surveillance policy. In a speech to be delivered Friday, Aug. 15, 2014 at a tech conference in Portland, Wyden says surveillance agencies are able to use outdated court decisions to justify intercepting information that is private. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140815/us--wyden-phone_records-552cb26127.html

[riderinthestorm]

1. Oh he's just a narcissistic, comrade, money grubbing person or something

Being all worried about the surveillance stuff...

[rhett o rick]

2. So will the "Friends of Obama" (FOO) show up to throw him under the bus?

Is he challenging the Security State that our President has embraced?

[MADem]

6. Why would anyone object to a legislator using his legislative authority to propose a

change to existing legislation by creating new legislation to define a concept that has been used to access personal information?

Gee, isn't that whole "rule of LAW" thing what matters? Using the law to make change, as opposed to taking it into one's own hands?

Nice snark--"FOO" eh? Rhymes with POO?

Way to foster discussion!

[99th_Monkey]

3. I love my Oregon Senators.

No wonder the Koch Brothers are trying to take them out.

See Koch Bro.s multi-million $$$$ campaign contributions to Sen Merkley's lame brained GOP opponent in upcoming election.

[neverforget]

5. They are great! Can't wait to vote for Merkley again!

And Wyden has been on top of this NSA bs and I love him for it. He knows what is going on and wants it fixed.

[billhicks76]

7. Best Senate Tandem

By far best in country.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Does any serious person doubt

That this is the plain meaning of the Fourth Amendment?