A proposed change to a criminal proceeding rule in the U.S. means that the U.S. government will be able to transpire into and spy on computer networks and devices from all over the world.
Google, inc. is worried about this law change saying that it would undercut users’ rights to privacy and security.
N4gm.com reports:
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A state body famous as the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure is searching to update Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41, which currently forbids a federal judge from issuing a search verdict outside of the judge’s section, with some exceptions.
The offered change would allow government agencies to get verdicts to operate “remote access” searches of computers and mobile devices if their physical position is “concealed through technological means.”
Maybe the idea behind this was to discover botnets or data from systems in the US whose Web traffic and location are covered, but this project won’t stop government from searching computers outside US boundaries.
Google is concerned that this change may harm the US’ relationships with countries borne out of agreements to collaborate in cross-border investigations. Also it’s anxious that Web users’ and businesses’ online privacy might be at risk. The change doesn’t determine the conditions under which verdicts for “remote searches” will be assumed, and even doesn’t specify the scope and nature of such measures.
Google is also concerned that Virtual Private Network (VPN) users as their locations are guarded, might come under fire. People use VPNs to transfer information securely and manage transactions, and could be included to baseless searches just because of the way the change is worded.
The company believes that the development of such powers should be decided upon by Congress. We can just wait and see if Google’s voice is loud enough that government hear it or not.
