FBI credit record inquiry proposal

[L. Detweiler]

Gosh, weren't we just talking about the suspension of requirement for
warrants in cases of `national security'? Below the FBI is posturing to
get access to credit records of `spies and terrorists' by writing only
a letter instead of the currently required warrant.

The FBI really scares me with the nonchalance and finesse with which
they keep introducing these unpleasant bills into Congress.

===cut=here===

From: kaplan at sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu (Peter Kaplan -Yodh)
Newsgroups: alt.privacy
Subject: ALERT.  New law on FBI and Credit Records
Keywords: Credit records, privacy, FBI, suspected "spies and terrorists."
Message-ID: <136431 at netnews.upenn.edu>
Date: 17 Jul 93 16:42:33 GMT
Sender: news at netnews.upenn.edu
Followup-To: alt.privacy
Organization: /etc/organization
Lines: 14
Nntp-Posting-Host: sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu

On page 7 of today's New York Times (_Saturday_, July 17) there is
a short article about the nation's inflated intelligence budget.

Buried in the article are two paragraphs describing another section of
the intelligence funding bill.  Tacked onto the bill is a provision to
allow the FBI to access the credit records of suspected "spies and
terrorists" by writing a letter rather than getting a search warrant
or other court order.

Your credit card bills and mortgage payments are rapidly becoming
police information.


- - --Peter (kaplan at sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu)