It’s alarming to see the increasing encroachment on our personal freedoms and liberties by the current administration. A recent internal email from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed a disturbing directive, urging its employees to conduct warrantless surveillance on American citizens. This comes at a time when President Biden has signed a bill that critics argue significantly expands such surveillance under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
The email, sent by FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, seems to encourage frequent use of warrantless surveillance on U.S. citizens as a means to justify the continued existence of this controversial program.
“To continue to demonstrate why tools like this are essential to our mission, we need to use them, while also holding ourselves accountable for doing so properly and in compliance with legal requirements,” Abbate wrote, according to Wired.
Abbate oversees all domestic and international investigative and intelligence activities for the FBI. His email referred to a new requirement that FBI personnel must obtain prior approval from an FBI supervisor or attorney before making queries about U.S. citizens.
This blatant disregard for privacy rights is indicative of an administration that appears more interested in wielding power than protecting individual liberties. While it’s true that law enforcement agencies need certain tools for their missions, it’s equally important that these tools are used responsibly and within the bounds of legality.
Source: Conservative Firing Line