The new surveillance state

It all happens so quickly...Congress goes into matador mode today and refuses to discuss Rule 41. It goes into effect tomorrow. The government will now be able to illegally hack innocent victims of a botnet.

Many thanks to Senator Ron Wyden for sticking up for American citizens' constitutional rights to privacy and unregulated search and seizure. More here.

“At midnight tonight, this Senate will make one of the biggest mistakes in surveillance policy in years and years,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who tried with Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to offer three measures to delay or rein in the new FBI powers. “Without a single congressional hearing, without a shred of meaningful public input, without any opportunity for senators to ask their questions in a public forum, one judge with one warrant would be able to authorize the hacking of thousands, possibly
millions of devices, cell phones and tablets.”

In the final analysis we surrender our rights so meekly and passively.