FBI Gives Itself Power To Follow You, Go Through Your Trash, Test If You’re Lying and More

By Join Or DIE on June 17, 2011 in News 16

Illustration: RadioKirk (CC)

Very startling observations from Sam Biddle on Gizmodo:

The easiest way to change the rules that apply to you is to just rewrite them yourself. So the FBI’s done exactly that, the NYT reports, self-releasing a new edition of its rulebook. Let’s dig through some garbage, Fed bros!

The “Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide” is the FBI’s big fat guide to investigative dos and don’ts. Formerly under the don’t category: administer lie detector tests, go through private residential garbage, and send out “surveillance squads” without any firm evidence that the person in question might possibly be a criminal. Not anymore! This is a new, chill, laid back FBI. Who needs evidence?

Now the Feds can do all of the above as an “assessment”—basically an entirely informal version of an official investigation, allowable without any proof that anyone’s up to anything illegal. So, if the FBI cares to, it can now “assess” you. By following you and going through your trashcans.

Read More from Sam Biddle on Gizmodo

Civil Liberties, Constitution, Crime, FBI, Freedom, Government, Law, Society, War On Terror

Grooveboss

the government is def run by aliens. Who the heck has the ambition to become one of these monsters. Like how self righteous can one be while wearing kool sunglasses. They need to give themselves the permission to create some music like the gangsters they arrest.
Nunzio X

It might be interesting to assume you’re under surveillance as of this moment, and begin developing methods to mitigate such activity…shred or burn all your mail, encrypt all your email / email attachments, change your passwords frequently, slip strange “code phrases” into innocent phone conversations, pay cash for everything, keep your cell phone turned off except when making calls, etc.

Practice doesn’t make perfect, because perfect doesn’t exist, but it helps prepare you for the time when you might actually have to employ these methods for real.
Hadrian999

garbage hasn’t been private for a long time, neither is your automobile if it isn’t parked inside your garage, in todays age of ID theft everyone should be shredding and burning any personal documents that you get rid of, the surveilance if it is being done by professionals its nearly impossible to detect so you are screwed there.
Anonymous

They’re getting increasingly more paranoid. They’re more afraid of us than we are of them.
Mamagriff50

We are now a police state….nolonger a Democracy!
Anonymous

Mario sez:

The FBI can dig around in my kitty litter if they like…
Diehard

Panic, Despair woe… Quit Freaking, This stuff has been legal for years and always will be. The local police can already do this, we are just allowing the FEDs which are not actually law enforcement (ITS TRUE, they cannot charge you with a crime on the DA can!) to do what locals do when there is exigent circumstances. If your not dumping hookers in your trash can don’t freak. Nunzio X take your Xanax.
Diehard

Panic, Despair woe… Quit Freaking, This stuff has been legal for years and always will be. The local police can already do this, we are just allowing the FEDs which are not actually law enforcement (ITS TRUE, they cannot charge you with a crime on the DA can!) to do what locals do when there is exigent circumstances. If your not dumping hookers in your trash can don’t freak. Nunzio X take your Xanax.
Diehard

Exactly, local po po does this all the time in Illinois don’t they. (I clicked on your profile I is from Central Ill yay)
Diehard

Exactly, local po po does this all the time in Illinois don’t they. (I clicked on your profile I is from Central Ill yay)
Wizard

bc they know we are going to rise up and kick their asses soon enough. although, it might take us a while. it doesnt mean it wont get done. just gotta hit this junt and think it thru one more time, is all, dammit.
Hadrian999

really me too, which city, i’m outside peoria
Hadrian999

the interesting and frightening thing is how easy it is to totally invade someones privacy without them ever knowing and usually you can do it with cheap equipment from radio-shack and wall mart, once you know how to do it you have to wonder if someone is doing it to you, at defcon a few years ago there was a guy who made a device that could be pointed at people on the street that would rip all the data from their cell phones if they had bluetooth activated, certain police scanners and similar devices can be used to remotely bug offices and trade shows if they use wireless intercoms or wireless micophones for meetings and presentations, homes with cordless phones as well.
Anarchy Wolf

Glad to see the Fascist Bureau of Instigation is keeping itself fresh and with the times.
Diehard

Centrailia now… Used to be Springfield.
Luke

Man i’m so glad i don’t live in the USA….this is getting ridiculous!