Main/Supreme Court Rule Change Expands FBI Search Powers

The U.S. Supreme Court recently approved a rule change to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, a change that greatly expands the FBI's searching and hacking powers. Previously under the Federal Rules, a magistrate judge was forbidden from approving a warrant request to remotely search a computer if the investigator did not know where the computer was, because the computer might be outside the judge's jurisdiction. 

[http://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/frcr16_8mad.pdf Under revised Rule 41], set to go into effect unless modified by Congress before December 1st, a magistrate may issue a warrant to search or seize a computer regardless of where it is, if the target device is using software, like Tor, or other technological means to conceal its location. Check out [https://theintercept.com/2016/04/28/supreme-court-gives-fbi-more-hacking-power/ the Intercept] for more information.
{{wl-publish: 2016-04-30 10:55:02 -0700 | Aalvarez:Amanda Alvarez Thibeault  }}