Report Claiming Senator Leahy Is About To Make Email Privacy Even Worse Is Flawed

Forbes ^ | Tuesday, November 20, 2012 | Kashmir Hill

[upchuck]

A report from CNet today claims that a bill up for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee next week that was supposed to increase privacy protections around our email would instead do the opposite, allowing many federal agencies to gain access to your email without a warrant. However, my reporting suggests the article is inaccurate. Here’s what CNet says:

[snip - see below]

This would be particularly disturbing in the wake of the scandal surrounding Generals Petraeus and Allen, whose emails were exposed during a wide-ranging and questionable FBI investigation and have brought the discussion of limits on the surveillance state to the fore. But when reached by phone, Patrick Leahy’s spokesperson David Carle bluntly said the article was “wrong.”

[upchuck]

The CNet article is here.

The FR post of the CNet article is here.

[a fool in paradise]

Leaky Leahy isn’t happy with the blowback.

[a fool in paradise]

The version of the bill that Declan McCullagh excerpts in his report appears to be one of many that have been drafted and passed around, but is not a version that would be considered seriously at a hearing to review the bill next week.

This reads like a Snope denial of a corporate slight against veterans, Christians, etc. who back down when they are exposed.

[a fool in paradise]

We’ll just have to pass the bill so we can read what’s in it < /Pelosi >

[msrngtp2002]

There is a lesson here - never store anything in the “cloud” and never leave your email on the server or on your computer. Delete and purge when you are done with stuff.

They may be able to access unread email still on the server, but would still need a search warrant to enter your home and retrieve anything on your home computer.

And turn it OFF when not using it!

[simonjo]

When oh when is this evil bald man going to take a dirt nap?

[upchuck]

Amen. You’ve got some really good rules there.

I have never, and never will, trust the “cloud.” Because I figure no one will be more concerned about protecting my data than me.

Read the contract of some of the cloud companies. They promise “best effort” at protecting your data. But if they really screw up and lose it, too bad.

I have a couple of Gmail throwaway accounts I access via IMAP. My real email accounts are all POP via Postbox. I can’t imagine doing it any other way.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm ..?? Leahy, Reid, Durbin, etc. Looks like the “old white men” are at it again.

Oooooh! Geeee whiz .. they’re all DEMOCRATS !!!!!!

[Montanabound]

I was thinking the same thing. The old bastard is only 72.