I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear that law enforcement is asking for “flexibility” when it comes to our privacy or civil liberties, I have a Pavlovian “uh-oh” response. Brad Swenson reports: State lawmakers may consider a special category for data to allow law enforcement more investigative options, says Sen. Mary Olson. “With…
Category: U.S.
Orin Kerr: Does the Fourth Amendment Prohibit Warrantless GPS Surveillance?
Orin Kerr provides his analysis and views on the issue over on The Volokh Conspiracy. Does the Fourth Amendment require a warrant to conduct surveillance of a government-installed GPS device, such as a device installed on a suspect’s car to monitor the car’s location? This issue comes up occasionally, and the DC Circuit has a…
Media shield legislation approved by Senate committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved legislation to establish a qualified privilege for journalists to protect their confidential sources and the public’s right to know. The bipartisan Free Flow of Information Act was first listed for Committee consideration in April, and Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has worked with the bill’s chief sponsors to move the…
Leahy Urges Congress To Pass REAL ID Fix
At a hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) urged the Senate to quickly approve legislation designed to fix problems in the national driver’s license program commonly referred to as REAL ID. Leahy is a leading sponsor of the bipartisan PASS ID Act, legislation that would implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations to enhance…